Why don't poor neighborhoods have Grocery Stores?

[surlycue]

Ugh, Tony's now makes you put a quarter in to rent your cart so this non-cash carrier ends up with two hand baskets and strong biceps.

[urza216]

There is no grocery store in Ford Heights or the east side of Chicago Heights (far south suburbs). There are food and liquor stores where you can buy groceries though. That's why they call em Food AND Liquor stores.

[Avengerfire]

When people that try to make a difference like this guy end up like this-no wonder store owners are hesitant to open up or keep shop in ghettos:

"A 59-year-old store owner who was fatally shot Saturday night inside his Near North convenience store was remembered today as a generous person who often gave out food when people were short on money and would visit customers when they were in the hospital..."

"...specifically picked the stores near the Cabrini Green housing project because he wanted to help out the community.

"He thought he could make a difference across the street from a building where people didn't have anything," Latifi said."

Near North Side store owner remembered as generous - Chicago Breaking News (http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/10/man-fatally-shot-on-near-north-side.html - broken link)

If anyone knows who killed this man they need to turn the person in.

[Special1]

Great response. Your description is one of the many reasons I decided to move from Chicago. The glaring differences aren't as great in other parts of the US. I've lived in developing (3rd world) countries and even they have better services than many places on the south side of Chicago.

Originally Posted by ajolotl

It's a great question and I'm looking forward to hearing people's responses. I agree with aragx6 that there are several factors at play. I'm sure staffing and protecting the store from vandalism/theft are issues also. Look at the new Target on 111th and I-57 -- they put a lot of money into lighting, security, etc. to make it feel security. It probably wasn't cheap. Probably most companies have also not yet exploited all existing opportunities in more middle class areas. I'm also guessing that exaggerated negative perceptions come into play. I'm sure others will disagree with that.

There are some poor areas with large grocery stores -- Stony Island 63rd to 87th has a Dominick's, Moo and Oink, Pete's. On the Dan Ryan at 87th there is Jewels or Dominicks (I can never recall which). At 111th off of I-57 there is a new Jewel being built. 95th and Ashland has a Jewel. An Aldi was just completed on 67th and Cottage Grove. Roseland seems to be a big "food desert" but there is still plenty of stuff close by.

But yes, most areas on the south side are horribly underserved even by basic staple businesses beyond groceries. I was at a gas station on 95th and Cottage and another one at 83rd or so in Cottage a few days earlier and I was struck at just how much they sucked. Credit card readers didn't work, huge potholes, cracked displays, etc. -- just a total dump. I'd say it looked third world but it wasn't nearly as nice as what I'm used to in Latin America (the oil companies have money and make very nice gas stations there). I don't think Citgo or whatever was too poor to fix it -- they just have no motivation to since the people who use it either are not in a position to or for whatever reason don't demand it.

[Chi-town Native]

Anyone see this? Interesting:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/us...erty.html?_r=2

‘Culture of Poverty’ Makes a Comeback

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Chi-town Native

Anyone see this? Interesting:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/us...erty.html?_r=2

‘Culture of Poverty’ Makes a Comeback

I would love to see the numbers and the list of neighborhoods:

"As part of a large research project in Chicago, Professor Sampson walked through different neighborhoods this summer, dropping stamped, addressed envelopes to see how many people would pick up an apparently lost letter and mail it, a sign that looking out for others is part of the community’s culture.

In some neighborhoods, like Grand Boulevard, where the notorious Robert Taylor public housing projects once stood, almost no envelopes were mailed; in others researchers received more than half of the letters back."

The New York Times > Log In

[krisalyx]

now i'm NOT from chicago but i'm coming up this summer and maybe to stay hopefully, anyways here in va (richmond) in our south side it's roughly the same issue very few grocery stores if any they're in the WORSE part of the area, anyways back to the topic at hand i know the southside (ya'lls) must have some grocery stores it can't have even one? or am i mising the point here?

[Craziaskowboi]

Originally Posted by At1WithNature

Why do all of the grocery stores move out once demographics change and the financial class of people is lowered?

'Cuz people keep stealing the damn shopping carts and merchandise!

[Humboldt1]

There are no food deserts with areas with large hispanic populations. Poverty alone is not behind the lack of grocery stores in poor areas.

Anyways, food desert is getting much smaller later this year at western and madison. I have advised same group to look at north and cicero (old cub foods and then grand food mart). Western and madison is a go.