Welcome to the Grand Opening of our Go Green Community Fresh Market!
Last week IMAN officially opened the Go Green Community Fresh Market, located in Chicago’s Englewood community at 1207 W. 63rd St. The Go Green Community Fresh Market is an alternative to traditional neighborhood corner stores—its inventory of fresh produce and halal, vegan and gluten-free foods reflecting its commitment to health, wellness, healing and increased healthy food access.
The Fresh Market is a model corner grocery store building power in the neighborhood as an economic tool for the community. The new store is a part of the Go Green On Racine initiative, which is a multi-development plan meant to revitalize the local economy, increase local resources, and enhance the overall quality of life for local residents.
Urban farmers, local food vendors and entrepreneurs will also sell their products through the market, which will feature a food kiosk with an in-house chef and wellness classes.
The launch of the Fresh Market is the critical first step of Go Green On Racine which is a partnership between IMAN, Teamwork Englewood, Resident Association of Greater Englewood (R.A.G.E), and E.G. Woode. Funding for the market was secured from contributions from the City of Chicago and several other private investments.
The Fresh Market concept grew out of IMAN’s Corner Store Campaign, an initiative that organized store owners and community members to commit to improving healthy food access on the south side. IMAN’s Corner Store campaign and food ecosystems work helped to foster racial healing among immigrant store owners and Black residents, and established an alternative corner store business model that promoted more equitable business practices.
The Fresh Market operates in cooperation with IMAN’s Food & Wellness Center shopper-style pantry located across the street at 1210-1218 W. 63rd St. Together, these two community resources will ensure Englewood residents have access to nutritious food, regardless of income, and are able to spend their hard-earned dollars in their own neighborhood.
In the news
- WGN: Go Green Fresh Market opens in Englewood
- Chicago Tribune: 25 years in the making, Englewood opens the Go Green Community Fresh Market, a new vision of the corner store: ‘It’s truly a breath of fresh air.’
- Block Club Chicago: A Grocery Store Is Opening In Englewood Thanks To Organizers Who Pushed To Bring Fresh Food To The South Side
- NBC7: New Englewood Grocery Store Prioritizes Fresh Food
- WBEZ: No flamin’ hots or bulletproof glass: A new model for a corner store opens in Englewood
