Atlanta grocery store offers affordable food, but needs help to stay open

A grocery store in southwest Atlanta is helping seniors and families afford groceries and meals. Now, its owner is looking for financial support to keep the doors open.

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Goodr Community Market and Little Loaf Deli, near the historic King Center, offers affordable groceries, inexpensive lunches and even free meals to people in the community.

For Vanessa Turner, 71, the store has been a lifeline.

Turner said she lost her job and her home when she was 61. Now living on a fixed income, she says the market makes it possible to afford groceries.

“This is a lifesaver for me,” she said. “I don’t know what I would do without it, I really don’t.”

The store is especially meaningful because of its location. About 1,500 seniors can walk to the market.

Owner Jasmine Crowe-Houston says her work is about more than providing food. She sees it as a way to continue the legacy of fighting for social justice through food justice.

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But grants and other funding has run out, leaving Crowe-Houston to cover the store’s operating expenses.

“We are trying to find funders and partners to help us cover our operations so we can keep our pricing low,” she said.

With minimal markups, keeping the store running has become a challenge.

Customers can help by making purchases at the market. Crowe-Houston pointed to a $3 purchase that helps provide a sandwich as one way to support the effort.

The store also has a token program that allows people to purchase tokens to buy food, but Crowe-Houston says more support is needed.

Turner recently spent $54 on a grocery trip and left with several bags.

To donate to this community initiative, please visit https://goodr.co/foundation/

“Thank you, my love,” Turner said. “Thank you so much. I love you so much. It’s a blessing.”

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