Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Carver Neighborhood Market was a vital component of south Atlanta’s historic Carver community, and demand was on the rise. Founded in 2015 by Focused Community Strategies, a community development organization, it is the only grocery store for four miles — an oasis in the middle of a food desert.
When the pandemic hit, Carver Market became even more of a lifeline for locals. As a smaller grocer, it was spared the shortages of essential goods that plagued the big chain stores. Residents could shop its uncrowded aisles while maintaining social distance, and Carver delivered groceries directly to at-risk neighbors who needed them.
“Carver Market has always focused on helping our neighbors stay healthy, and that idea took on an entirely new element,” Jeff Delp, FCS Economic Development Director, said in a statement. “Our neighbors really supported us and looked to us for support. We recognized that we needed to build even more capacity if we wanted to serve the neighborhood.”
Now in the midst of a remodel to do just that, the market has received a $250,000 multi-year grant from the PNC Foundation, awarded through FCS. The grant is part of a larger $1.5 billion effort on the part of the foundation — the philanthropic arm of financial services institution PNC Financial Services — to provide economic support to Black and low-to-moderate income communities.
“This multi-year funding effort gives us an opportunity to support economic revitalization and expand access of essential resources to 100 more families per day in a historically underserved neighborhood,” Courtney Smith, PNC Community Development Banking market manager for Georgia, said in a statement.
The grant will help cover Carver Market’s in-progress renovations. The market has spent the past few months tearing down walls, adding more refrigerators, revamping its produce section and updating its inventory. When complete, it will have added 1,200 square feet of retail space, brought in check-out stands, added new carts and built loading docks. The market’s adjoined coffee shop, Community Grounds, has also been renovated. It re-opened on August 2 after being closed since March 2020.
Carver Neighborhood Market will hold a grand re-opening this fall. Keep up with its progress on its Instagram page.
