LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The appetite for a grocery store in Smoketown has not gone away, but plans to build a store have died.

In 2022, Louisville Association for Community Economics Inc. (LACE) and its partner, Louisville Community Grocery, announced its plans to once again try and build a store in Smoketown.

"Our community, we're left on our own to do the best with what you got," said Smoketown resident Emanuel Valentine.

The co-op grocery store was going to be located at Finzer and South Jackson streets on a currently empty lot donated by the Hillerich family of Louisville Slugger.

On Thursday, LACE board member Cassia Herron shared the partnership between LACE and Louisville Community Grocery ended, in turn killing the current plans.

In a statement Herron said:

"Last year the Louisville Community Grocery and its cooperative development partner the Louisville Association for Community Economics ended its relationship over differences in approach to the project. Over the past year, leaders with the Louisville Community Grocery have been busy getting access to our assets and reorganizing our board. Sadly, no new grocery stores have opened in our target neighborhoods since we started so our efforts to continue remain."

News about the plan being off the table was disappointing, but didn't surprise Valentine, who lives a block away from the proposed site.

"For what's been done in this community is minimal at best," Valentine said.

Valentine, who has spent more than a decade living in Smoketown, said it takes him two hours round trip taking the bus to get groceries from ValuMarket in the Highlands.

"All we have around here are little convenience stores. And you ought to compare the prices of a convenience store to what's in a grocery store," said Valentine.

The project was also backed by a $3.5 million bond from Metro Government. In 2020, Metro Government set the money aside to award to a grocery store project in Louisville's high-needs area.

LACE was awarded the bid when the city's first request for proposals (RFP) were put out in 2021. But, the city ended talks in the beginning of 2022. 

It re-awarded the money later in 2022. Officials previously said Smoketown is the right location for the grocery because it's a food desert, meaning most residents live more than a mile from the nearest supermarket.

Councilman Jecorey Arthur supported allocating the money to LACE and Louisville Community Grocery's project, but is now left disappointed that the plan has fallen through. 

"I don't even know the extent of why there were disagreements between the developer and the operator, but that aside, people had expectations for a grocery store, and now they're not getting one because of things that, you know, I consider petty differences," Arthur said. "I wanna say I'm disappointed, that's probably the least I can say. I'm pissed off. People in that area are pissed off."

Arthur, who is not seeking a second term, said it is time for the city to support its residents, and consider funding, developing, and operating a grocery store project. 

"I think city government has to get into a mindset almost like other public amenities that we offer and that we have, like paving. Everybody has to pay for paving. It's something we have to take care of, it doesn't necessarily make money. Food is a basic need, so that's something that I hope future Metro Councils and future mayoral administrations really focus on and prioritize, because people got to eat," Arthur said.

As for Louisville Community Grocery, Herron said it is still committed to creating a grocery store.

"We are in the middle of a market study to reconsider locations, including Finzer. We are hosting our Annual Owners Meeting on October 15th and encourage owners and those interested to attend. More details to come. Contact us at louisvillecommunitygrocery@gmail.com or 502-509-1810 or FB, IG and X," Herron said. 

Related Stories:

Copyright 2024 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.