Glenwood Fresh Market seeks to offer healthy food options on South Side

BY RUSSELL BRICKEY

The long-vacant plaza at 2915 Glenwood Ave. is being given new life by the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to neighborhood revitalization.

“The Glenwood Fresh Market is going to one of multiple storefronts,” says YNDC Neighborhood Stabilization Director Jack Daugherty. “That plaza used to be a daycare center and a soul food restaurant most recently, but it has been vacant for a good five years or so, and before that some of the storefronts were vacant for almost 20 years.”

Now, with the help of funding from federal block grants, the plaza will include the 1,200-square-foot Fresh Market as well as five other white box spaces available for rent. Some sections of Youngstown can be considered food deserts, particularly in neighborhoods without a convenient supermarket. YNDC is doing its part to resolve this.

“Residents in this neighborhood, and in other neighborhoods throughout the city, want to see more access to fresh and healthy foods close by because not everybody has access to a car,” Daugherty says.

The Fresh Market will provide produce and healthy food options free of charge to individuals and families whose household income falls 200 percent below federal poverty guidelines.

YNDC canvassed the neighborhoods adjacent to Glenwood, literally knocking on more than 700 doors, asking residents what they most wanted to see near them. The overwhelming response was access to healthy foods. This was the primary motivation for creating the Fresh Market.

Since 2017 YNDC has partnered with numerous government and private organizations on various neighborhood projects. Renovations at the Glenwood plaza are the latest effort to provide a unique and needed service in the area.

“The Fresh Market is really the only place like it on Glenwood avenue,” Daugherty says. Produce is being bought from local distributors and local farmers, further helping the Youngstown area economy. “The Market is going to hold as much locally sourced produce as we can get in the space,” he adds.

In addition, managers are hoping to stock other household necessities. And there are plans to coordinate the produce in the Fresh Market with YNDC sponsored cooking classes.

Even though supply chain problems have delayed construction, the Market was slated to open at the end of March. It is hoped that the Fresh Market and its associated rental spaces will provided jobs in the area as well.

Glenwood Fresh Market is only one of numerous projects undertaken by YNDC in the last several years. These include restorations of nine commercial buildings along the Glenwood corridor, renovation of a former Rescue Mission building into the Glenwood Business Center, and over 160 houses throughout the city.

“All of our neighborhood corridors struggle with vacant buildings and structures,” Daugherty says. “If the opportunity presented itself, if we could bring them back to life, we would like to see that happen.”

Because the Fresh Market needs to verify financial need, membership is required to take advantage of its free offerings. Anyone currently receiving S.N.A.P. benefits is eligible. “Membership is required only because we have to qualify folks for the program so they can start shopping from day one,” Daugherty says.

YNDC is taking advanced appointments. Early registration began in January and is ongoing. People who have questions or are interested in a membership should call 330-333-3561 or email Glenwood Fresh Market Manager Susan Payton at spayton&yndc.org. Applicants need only provide a photo I.D.