Organizers have secured a location for Gem City Market, a planned co-operative grocery store designed to help alleviate food insecurity in West Dayton.
Officials announced this morning Gem City Market will be built in one of Ohio’s largest food deserts, on the 300 and 400 blocks of Salem Avenue in Northwest Dayton. The site currently houses a vacant lot and shuttered art supply shop.
Organizers are hoping to raise a total of $4.2 million to fund the project. More than one-third of that amount has already been committed.
The full-service grocery store is set to be community and employee owned. So far, at least 920 residents have become members.
Organizers say they hope to break ground by the end of this year. The store is slated to open in 2019.
