Most people in northern Texas appreciate the neighborhood grocery stories. But, that is not the case in a southeastern Dallas neighborhood, which was a food desert with stores more than five miles away, when Save U More opened in 2016.
That store near the corner of Simpson Stuart Road and Bonnie View Road closed on New Year’s Day.
People who shopped there on the last day found very little to buy.
“You can see from the front to the back of the store and all the way to the shelves,” said customer Pearl Smith.
In the months leading up to Friday’s closing, some neighbors said that bad stock led to the store’s downfall.
Councilman Tennell Atkins, who represents the area, struggled for years to find a developer willing to open a store in the desert for food.
“We need to ensure that this community has fresh vegetables, fresh fruits and fresh meat,” he said.
There was a good offer in 2019, when Rodney Wiggins, who ran the store at the time, said it was a challenging location.
“A lot of people are afraid to come to this area. This area needs to be raised, ”said Wiggins.
There have been crime problems on that corner in the past.
But there are also hungry people in apartments and single-family homes nearby. Paul Quinn College is on the same street.
The city of Dallas gave the developer a $ 2.9 million grant to renovate what was a decaying old mall and open the warehouse. In return, the developer should keep a store at the disposal of the neighborhood for 10 years.
“Five years ago. He said yesterday that he is committed to staying here for 10 years. It needs time to restructure itself, to come up with another type of concept to reopen, ”said Atkins.
In August, a group of critics demonstrated in front of the store, opposing any additional spending in the city.
“Where did all the money go and when did the city go into the business of bailing out failed groceries and businesses,” said critic Eric Williams that day.
On Friday, Atkins would not rule out additional city spending.
“I think all the options are on the table,” said Atkins. “The city always invests in the community. I don’t think the city will stop investing in the community. “
Atkins said the neighborhood needs a grocery store and he will support opening it again.
“That would be incredible. That would be really incredible, ”said customer Pearl Smith.
She left the store for a longer walk on Friday, as she said she did not like to find food elsewhere.
Some neighbors in the neighboring apartments say they will have convenience stores and a stock shop just a few steps from the corner. These stores provide milk and packaged products, but not fresh food and full groceries.