The Gem City Market will be a full-service 15,000 square foot grocery store and deli located in the 100 block of Salem Avenue in West Dayton, just across the bridge from downtown Dayton, with a planned 2019 opening.
According to a 2015 study by FRAC, Dayton is the 2nd worst city in the nation for food hardship for families with children.
A recent Gallup poll shows 29.4 percent of households in our region report trouble obtaining healthy food.
Why Grocery stores matter
- People who live near a supermarket have lower rates of diet-related
diseases than their counterparts in neighborhoods lacking food
access (Food Trust) - 20% percent higher obesity/diabetes rates in least
healthy “food environments,” controlling for income,
race/ethnicity, age, gender, and physical activity.
To open the market and provide fresh food for the area, organizers need to raise $3.9 million. The grocery store is being set up as a co-op business, with a goal for the store to sell 2,000 shares at $100 each to customers and community supporters. They hope to fund the rest through donations, grants, the business community and loans.
What a membership share will get you:
- access to member-only sales prices (similar to a Kroger Plus card)
- a vote on or run for community seats on the board of directors. participate in annual meetings where the general direction of the store is set
- petition the store to make changes in terms of product mix or what we sell
- Once they are profitable, the community will share in a percentage of profit not reinvested in the store, based upon level of patronage (how much you shop at the store).
What a membership share will cost:
- $100 one time membership fee, can be payed $10 per month for 10 months.
Subsidized shares
- Individuals who qualify for financial assistance can apply for a subsidized share. Individuals will be able to securely upload concurring documents (snap benefit card, employment insurance statement, etc) when purchasing their membership.
