News Summary
Construction has commenced for a new grocery store in the Griffin Heights neighborhood of Tallahassee, backed by $1.3 million in city funding. The initiative aims to improve access to fresh food in an area identified as a food desert. Spanning 2,500 square feet, the store is significantly smaller than conventional supermarkets. Although construction is underway, the city has yet to secure an operator, with plans to issue a Request for Proposal soon. The project is part of ongoing community efforts to enhance local food access and economic vitality.
TALLAHASSEE – Construction has officially started for a new grocery store in the Griffin Heights neighborhood, following the City of Tallahassee’s approval of nearly $1.3 million in funding. The groundbreaking ceremony was held recently and aims to provide local residents easier access to fresh food options in an area that has been recognized as a food desert.
The grocery store will cover approximately 2,500 square feet, making it significantly smaller than traditional supermarkets, which usually range from 40,000 to 50,000 square feet. Despite the initiation of construction, the city has not yet secured an operator for the store. In response, officials plan to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) in the next four to six weeks in hopes of attracting a suitable grocery operator.
This initiative marks the second attempt to bring a grocery store to the Griffin Heights site, as previous RFPs yielded no responses. City officials are optimistic about the store’s potential benefits, focusing on job creation, local economic circulation, and offering healthier food options for residents without reliable transportation.
However, history indicates that city-run grocery initiatives may face substantial financial challenges. Studies suggest that such ventures often require financial support, including subsidies or donations, to remain sustainable. Notable examples include the Rise Market in Cairo, Illinois, which struggled to compete with larger chains before closing, and Baldwin Market in Florida, which operated at a loss prior to shutting down.
Griffin Heights has been without a grocery store since a Winn-Dixie closed in 2018, followed by the closure of a Lucky’s Market in 2020. Local residents have voiced the necessity for convenient grocery access, many relying on walking to complete their shopping trips due to transportation barriers.
The push for this project is part of a broader community effort articulated in the Griffin Heights Neighborhood First Plan, which was launched in 2019. City Commissioner Curtis Richardson acknowledges that this grocery store project stems directly from community requests for improved access to groceries.
City officials have been in discussions with various grocery operators, including Piggly Wiggly. However, the size of the proposed store is not conducive to meeting the operational requirements of larger grocery chains.
Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey has emphasized the grocery store’s significance for neighborhood revitalization and has criticized opposition regarding budget allocations for such initiatives. Meanwhile, Commissioner Jeremy Matlow has been an advocate for local government involvement in addressing food deserts, positioning the grocery store as a crucial component of community health support.
Feedback from residents has been overwhelmingly positive, noting the grocery store as a hopeful solution to the ongoing difficulties they face in accessing healthy food options. Community members are optimistic that the completion of the grocery store will enhance their quality of life by providing them with local access to nutritious food choices.
As the city prepares to find an operator for the grocery store, officials remain dedicated to the vision of revitalizing the Griffin Heights neighborhood and improving access to essential resources for its residents.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Jeremy Matlow Declares Candidacy for Tallahassee Mayor
Leon County School Board Approves $647 Million Budget
Tallahassee City Commission Highlights Community Initiatives
Trader Joe’s Expands to Daytona Beach with New Store
New Grocery Store Construction Begins in Griffin Heights
New Grocery Store to Address Food Accessibility in Griffin Heights
Trinity United Methodist Church Tackles Food Insecurity
South Florida Retail Market Sees Historic Low Vacancy Rates
Rainey Cawthon Distributors Expands Fuel Storage Capacity
New Publix Store Opens at Riverland Town Center
Additional Resources
- Tallahassee.com: Griffin Heights Grocery Store Groundbreaking
- Google Search: Griffin Heights grocery store
- TCPalm: Memorial Day Grocery Store Update
- Wikipedia: Food Desert
- WTXL: Leon County Discussion on Food Deserts
- Google News: Food Desert Tallahassee
Author: STAFF HERE TALLAHASSEE WRITER
The TALLAHASSEE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERETallahassee.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Tallahassee, Leon County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Springtime Tallahassee, Tallahassee Jazz & Blues Festival, and LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce and United Way of the Big Bend, plus leading businesses in education, healthcare, and insurance that power the local economy such as Florida State University, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, and Capital Health Plan. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HEREStPetersburg.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
