The Division of Business Development Held a Meeting to Discuss Opening New Super Market
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (CITRUSTV NEWS) — The Division of Business Development held a public meeting last night at McKinley-Brighton Elementary School to further discuss the opening of a full-service super market in Valley Plaza.
An open spot has consumed the plaza since TOPS Friendly Market shut down in 2018, creating one of the largest urban food deserts in upstate New York. The project to fill this vacancy, originally proposed in 2020, is aiming to provide Syracuse Southside residents with fresh and affordable groceries.
The project is run by Rhonda Vesey, the founder of Food Access Healthy Neighborhoods Now, who applied for the $1.7 million grant propelling the project forward.
“Fighting for this store, for so many years…is what made our application so powerful,” said Vesey.
Marva Cook, among many others involved in the project, reminded community members at the meeting that Syracuse consists of the highest child poverty rate in the nation.
“If we don’t have an actual grocery store that has good food, that’s going to be healthy for (children), school is going to be the last thing on their minds,” said Cook. “If anyone has ever been hungry before, you know what that feels like.”
Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said that removing this barrier for the city’s constituents and providing them with their basic needs is essential. He acknowledged that this is not the only food desert in the area, and that the grocery store will require additional resources and partners in order to make a difference citywide.
“It’s one thing to get the store built and open, but it’s another to ensure it’s successful,” Walsh said.
However, some Syracuse residents, such as Roshawn Kershaw, question how this store in particular will stay afloat.
“At first you’re skeptical because this certain spot has had two companies fail in this area,” said Kershaw.
Ultimately, though, she hopes the project will contribute to something bigger.
“We say food desert, but really, there isn’t anything around,” said Kershaw. “We don’t have any of those public spaces, we don’t have any of those community areas for students to go to…so I’m hoping it’s a natural progression for people to start getting more involved in their local government and community as well.”
The grocer behind the new store and president of Imperial Market, A.K. Kaid, recognized the concerns of Kershaw and others who spoke out at the meeting. Kaid operates a similar store in a comparable economic area in Buffalo, and told the Syracuse community that he will do everything in his power to make this one succeed.
“I promise you this, if we do fail, it won’t be because of lack of effort,” said Kaid. “I promise you that we are going to do our best in terms of hiring and providing fresh food daily.”
Construction is expected to begin in the following months and finish in March of 2026. The ribbing cutting event and grand opening of the grocery store is set for May.
Reporter: Skylar Smith
