GREENSBORO, N.C. — The Renaissance Community Co-Op in Northeast Greensboro is shutting its doors. The board tells Spectrum News that the RCC was not able to generate enough sales to cover expenses and make the store sustainable.
- A food desert in Greensboro just lost a grocery store.
- The full service cooperative grocery store will close on January 25.
- There is a community meeting Monday, January 14 at 6:00 p.m. at the RCC (2517 Phillips Ave.) to discuss the store's future.
It's a heartbreak for neighbors like Natasha Gerald, who think this store solved their neighborhood's food desert problem.
"I grew up in this neighborhood when this store... before it was Winn Dixie. Then we lost Winn Dixie when they went to Cone Blvd,” Gerald explained. “So for years we didn't have anything. Having a store here is a welcome commodity. Especially for the older people who still live here, like my mother."
The board chair of the RCC, Roodline Volcy, said store owners got a letter informing them about the store's closing and thanking them for their hard work and dedication.
"We also wanted the letter to be encouraging because what we did here with the RCC is such a huge accomplishment that needs to be celebrated. We ended a food desert for two years, we provided decent jobs with benefits for dozens of people,” Volcy said.
Neighbors said this is a huge disappointment for the community. They said they are worried they will not have any fresh food options to feed their family.
"I feel bad about it. We really need this store around here, you know? I don't know what else we're going to do without a store like this,” neighbor Keith Thompson said.
"The prices are reasonable so hopefully we can get something in place of the Renaissance Co-Op,” Gerald said. “Co-Ops take a lot of work, it takes a lot of time, it takes a lot of investment."
The full service cooperative grocery store will close on January 25.
The city of Greensboro responded to new of the closing by stating:
Having access to food, particularly fresh fruits and vegetables, is vital for a community, making the closing of the Renaissance Community Co-op in the Renaissance Shopping Center a tremendous loss for Greensboro. While only open two years, the grocery store provided access to healthy food options in the heart of a food desert.
While their doors have closed, it’s important to keep the Co-op’s legacy alive. The need for access to healthy food options is paramount for all Greensboro residents. The efforts of the Co-op serve as an example of community collaboration to improve the quality of life of its residents.
City staff is engaging Self-Help, the owners of the shopping center, and they’ve indicated a continued interest in the center and helping it become a hub for food, medical needs, banking and more on Phillips Avenue.
There is a community meeting happening Monday, January 14 at 6:00 p.m. at the RCC (2517 Phillips Ave.) to discuss the store's future. Owners and employees are going to be there, and the community is welcome to attend.