Tommy Blog Bringing Corner Stores Back | Bringing Corner Stores Back |
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| Written by Daniel Conner | |
| Friday, 25 January 2008 | |
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One of the many projects that Tommy has me working on is researching and developing a strategy to help create an initiative that strengthens the network of corner stores in our communities -- finding ways to provide healthier food choices to residents and helping our small businesses adapt to changing markets and consumer bases.
Many cities, for example, Philadelphia, PA, New Orleans, LA, and Rockland, NY are addressing this problem by creating city initiatives to help curb and reverse these trends by focusing on improving the choice and quality of food, and creating incentives for the corner stores to stop up to meet the challenge. Currently DC Hunger Solutions is in Phase 1 of their Healthy Corner Store initiative which includes the following: 1. Retail Market Analysis – a map and list of all grocery outlets and of food "deserts" in Wards 7 and 8; an analysis of food buying power in the target area; and an analysis of food dollars “leaked” to jurisdictions outside the District. 2. Corner Store Data Collection – surveys of 20-30 corner stores’ current inventory (or lack thereof) of fresh produce, healthy snacks, healthy beverages, and current WIC-approved foods (plus healthy new WIC options); and interviews with store owners to learn more about their businesses and the customers they serve, as well as interest in adding to their product mix. 3. Healthy Snack Campaign – social marketing materials placed in stores to boost demand among customers (especially youth) for healthy snack and beverage choices; and similar materials displayed in neighboring schools and community sites to reinforce Campaign messages and existing nutrition education curriculum. 4. Blueprint Report – Phase one will culminate in a blueprint report to the Department of Health and the Council that lays out policy and investment recommendations for the District as a whole
I'd love to hear your thoughts or suggestions about an initiative like this? Please feel free to leave comments below, or contact me directly at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 202-724-8063. Readers have left 7 comments. (1) Untitled 2008-01-28 22:18:27 Daniel Connor: That's a very nice article. I heartily applaud. One area you might consider is legislation in recent years to minimize trans fats and generally about what should be available in fast-food restaurants. I hope you can also broaden this into a general discussion of planning for a future with more walking and bicycling and metroing, less driving and vehicles. Town planners now recognize it was an error to zone corner stores out of residential areas, forcing people to drive for all shopping. That has contributed to obesity and health problems. A broad discussion relating to parts of your topic is also highly relevant to figuring out what kind of transportation we can forsee customers using in the future to come to Eastern Market and Barracks Row shops, in a world with less carbon emissions. And hence to the current discussion around managing parking. Best wishes, keep at it! (2) Untitled 2008-01-29 09:43:47 Mr. Anderson, To follow-up on one point you make regarding trans fats, there is a bill currently under review by the Committee on Health to address trans fats as well as labeling menu boards in fast food restaurants with nutritional information. (3) Untitled 2008-01-29 10:08:01 The UK supermarket company Tesco (under the brand Fresh & Easy) is coming to the US with stores that are smaller than regular supermarkets but much larger than 7-11's. With a sophisticated supply-chain management system, they can operate like larger stores. And they serve all ends of the income spectrum. This may be a good model for urban areas, such as DC. Right now they are focused on California, Nevada and Arizona. But their business model should work well on the East Coast. (see http://www.freshandeasy.com) Written by Ken Jarboe () (4) Untitled 2008-01-29 11:55:44 Seems like a great initiative. Perhaps some kind of incentives to carry produce would work. We have some great corner stores in our neighborhood (East Capitol and 6th St., SE) but they don't generally have much in the way of fresh fruits and veggies. (5) Untitled 2008-01-31 09:28:29 Kate, Incentives are one area we are looking at to bring more produce into corner stores. The incentives can range from one time grants to buy refrigeration systems and electrical upgrades to free advertisements inside and outside the store, in schools and around the community. We also plan on creating relationships with corner stores and fresh produce distributors so items are more available and much less expensive.
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' title='Click to send email'>  Written by Daniel Conner (Author) (6) Untitled 2008-02-11 12:56:51 Incentives for corner stores. What a stupid idea. Corner stores have died out because people can get better products at lower prices in supermarkets. Please Tommy, let the market do its job. Written by Guest User () (7) Untitled 2008-03-10 10:09:04 I live between the D.C. Express market at 15th and East Capitol and the S.E. Market at 15th and Independence. I asked both of them the other day if they'd please stock bananas. This morning, D.C. Express told me the bananas are coming in later today, and S.E. Market ACTUALLY HAD BANANAS for me. Managers at both stores seemed very happy to get the request. No need for eggheaded surveys--just ask for what you want! Next stop: oranges. I will report back to the Tommy Blog ASAP. |
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 25 January 2008 ) |
Traditionally, corner stores serve a residential neighborhood as a stop for daily necessities, food and produce. They typically sell grocery store type items, just with a smaller selection. Unfortunately, in DC, as well as with many other cities around the country, many corner stores no longer predominately sell healthy food options and daily staples, but focus the majority of their sales on alcohol and unhealthy candy and snacks, causing the following to occur:
It's a great start, but we want to find ways to expand this initial effort and create a bigger impact with some of the best practices from cities facing a similar challenge. A few ways we can tackle this are by creating grant programs for corner stores to improve store infrastructure (e.g. adding refrigerator cases, improving facades, upgrading electrical circuits) to provide healthier food options, create relationships to farmers markets and local merchants to provide affordable fresh produce and goods to the corner stores, provide participants free or subsidized advertising in store and local print or radio media, and create relationships with local schools to promote the initiative and participating corner stores. There are many other great ideas out there. | < Prev | Next > |
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