DAYTON, Ohio — Work on the Gem City Market continues to progress Thursday, and owners said they hope to have the market open by the start of summer.
News Center 7 got an inside look at the 8,000-square-foot market, giving people in the area a sneak peek.
The market is located at 324 Salem Avenue and is something that is greatly needed in the community.
“If you look at Northwest and West Dayton, there’s not a lot of grocery stores,” said Leah Bahan-Harris, Gem City Market’s general manager.
“There’s not a lot of access. There is people having to ride the bus, drive 15 minutes and so that was the concern. Making sure that we had fresh, affordable groceries, but then it grew into something more.”
>> Gem City Market pushes for 2021 opening; will address city’s food desert
Some of the space at Gem City Market will be occupied by a Third Perks coffee shop, a community kitchen where cooking classes will take place, a Five Rivers Health Clinic and a community room designed to host a variety of events and meetings aimed at bring people together.
The Salem Avenue Peace Corridor had the following statement in one of its newsletters:
“In addition to operating as a full-service grocery store, the Gem City Market will also offer a number of community-based programs to assist new and expectant parents. Following local and state health orders and adhering to strict social distancing guidelines, the ‘Mama’s at the Market’ is one such day long program that will serve local residents, when the store opens in 2021. The weekly service will be offered every Tuesday of the month, held both virtually and in-person. The program offerings will be dedicated to providing new and expectant parents access to resources, support groups, benefits and childbirth education services needed during and after pregnancy.”
Gem City market is already at 3,200 member-owners prior to opening.
“There’s different kinds of memberships that meets the needs of everyone. We have a $10 membership for people that self-identify as limited income. We have what’s called a 50/50 match through Premier Health- where they’ll pay $50 of your membership and you can pay the other 50 if you are in our trade area zip code. Then we have a $100 membership that you can make payments on.”
For more information on Gem City Market head to https://gemcitymarket.com/
Cox Media Group
