The social enterprise grocery store opens its second location dedicated to improving food access and community health in underserved communities
SEAT PLEASANT, MD (September 24, 2021) – Good Food Markets, a local grocery store, opened a second location in Seat Pleasant, MD on Wednesday September 15. Good Food Markets is a social enterprise of DC nonprofit Oasis Community Partners. In 2015, they launched their pilot location in the DC neighborhood of Woodridge in Ward 5. The Prince George’s County location was selected after extensive dialogue with the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation (PGC-EDC) as part of their efforts to improve food access in underserved areas of the County.
Good Food Markets is located in the Addison Plaza shopping center which had been home to a Safeway grocery store until it closed in 2016 creating greater difficulty for residents, many of which are seniors or low-income, to access fresh food. Mayor Eugene W. Grant of Seat Pleasant, Maryland enthusiastically welcomed Good Food Markets and said, “For over 1,902 days since the closing of a major grocery store in Seat Pleasant my residents have suffered the effects of a food desert.” He went on to say, “Good Food Markets will have a tremendous positive effect granting many of our senior citizens, families and neighbors access to fresh, wholesome and nutritious and healthy food options that they had been denied of for a long time.”
In addition to everyday grocery access, this location will also have a full-service café with a made-to-order menu and communal seating. “Good Food Markets is truly a welcome grocery opportunity to this area of District 7/Capitol Heights and Seat Pleasant communities in Prince Georges County! We welcome the retail grocery market to help supplement our need for quality foods, meats and vegetables,” said Saundra Womack of the Peppermill Village Civic Association.
Further, Good Food Markets will host health education events for adults and children, and partner with community organizations to provide residents with tools to stay healthy. “We are more than just a grocery store,” expressed Good Food Markets Marketing Manager, Krista Carter. “We have hosted over 400 programs since opening our first location on Rhode Island Avenue, and are excited to learn what our neighbors need in order to best serve as a comprehensive health and wellness resource,” she added.
The project was funded in late 2019 through grants, a Healthy Food Financing Initiative loan from the Low-Income Investment Fund (LIIF), and an Economic Development Incentive Fund loan from the PGC-EDC. The independent nonprofit organization has been able to battle through the challenging pandemic circumstances, and open this store despite rising construction and materials costs, and ongoing delays.
“Good Food Markets was founded on the fundamental belief that everyone deserves access to fresh, healthy food. The new Seat Pleasant location is the culmination of the work that numerous organizations and individuals have put in over years to advocate for policies, funding and action to expand food access in this neighborhood,” stated Good Food Markets Executive Director, Philip Sambol. He continued, “We are proud to be serving the Prince George’s County community and will continue to expand on our vision later this year with our third store in Ward 8.”
Throughout the pandemic Good Food Markets has provided emergency food to nonprofits and public sector entities, including the Prince George’s County health department, delivering over 540,000 meals worth of groceries in DC, Maryland and Virginia.
A Grand Opening celebration is scheduled on Saturday, October 2 from 10am – 2pm, with Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, Seat Pleasant Mayor Eugene Grant, and other community leaders scheduled to speak at the ribbon cutting ceremony.
About Good Food Markets
Good Food Markets is social enterprise grocery store operated by nonprofit Oasis Community Partners with the mission to improve food access and community health by providing fresh healthy food, hosting fun educational events, and collaborating with neighborhood groups.
###
Comments