Food Desert Gets Grocery Store

CHATTANOOGA, TN. (WDEF-TV) For years Chattanooga leaders have talked about what they call a "food desert" in East Chattanooga.
Many residents were forced to walk long distances or even ride a bus just to get a few groceries.
But that’s about to change.

Crews are starting to clear off the property at Moore Road and Shallowford. It’ll be a full service grocery store, and for the first time in years residents of this Brainerd neighborhood will be able to shop near their homes.

DOROTHY GARRETT, EAST CHATTANOOGA RESIDENT "I’m happy to know a store is closer…especially we get our medicine there..cause I go down to Rite Aid to get that down on Brainerd Road."

Officially, the name of the grocery chain has not been released…but that part will be just a formality. A big store is coming.

RUSSELL GILBERT, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER "It’s going to be a full-fledged store. Its going to have a pharmacy in there…an opportunity for the seniors to get their meds. its going to have a deli. Its going to have fresh produce…every nutrition needs..that a person needs will be in that store."

Dorothy Garrett says she has a car, but many of her neighbors don’t. There’s a bus that comes on Wednesday to take residents to shop…but what if they need something at other times of the week? Things are about to change for the better.

DOROTHY GARRETT "Boy, that’s beautiful. Beautiful, beautiful…its good for all of us."

There’s another benefit of attracting a major grocery chain there.

RUSSELL GILBERT "I can’t give an exact number but you’re looking between 75 to 100 people are going to be hired for that store itself."

And many of those jobs will go to people who live nearby.

RUSSELL GILBERT "Its a good time for the 5th district."

The new all-purpose grocery store at Moore Road at Shallowford is expected to open in early 2016.