New grocery co-op being planned for Columbus’ East Side

A new community-owned store that focuses on high-quality, local food is being planned in Bronzeville, a Near East Side neighborhood.

The idea behind the Bronzeville Food Co-op has been in the works for years – decades, even. In 2013, the local nonprofit PACT (Partners Achieving Community Transformation) stated that the Near East Side was in-need of a local grocery store. According to Bronzeville Food Co-op’s website, PACT is now a sponsor of this project.

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Over a decade later, and an option for groceries on the East Side might actually be happening now. Residents in the Near East Side/Bronzeville location received mail that The Bronzeville Food Co-op is in their research phase, and they asked residents to complete a survey with questions related to grocery shopping habits. Questions include, “How easy is it to get fresh fruits & vegetables in your area?” and, “How happy are you with the grocery options in your area?”

More information, such as the location and timeline for the potential food co-op will be shared in early 2025, according to Bronzeville Food Co-op representatives. 

Currently, the closest grocery store to the Near East Side is the Kroger located at 2000 E. Main St.  The Carl Brown IGA which used to sit at 1315 Mount Vernon Ave. and considered the “First African-American grocery store in Columbus,” was demolished in 2015 after sitting vacant for years. There’s another co-op in Bexley, called Bexley Natural Market.

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