NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WVEC) -- After nearly two years of not having a grocery store in the southeast community of Newport News, Jim’s Local Market officially opened its doors on Tuesday afternoon with a ceremony that included the Heritage High School band and city officials such as Newport News Mayor McKinley Price, Councilwoman Tina L. Vick and City Manager James Bourey.
The team all made efforts to bring a grocery store to an area of the city with limited access to fresh food; it's what is commonly referred to as a "food desert."
The American Heart Association reports that these communities are at higher risk of health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
You can find the new grocery store on Jefferson Avenue near 30th Street, in the Brooks Crossing Development.
Jim Scanlon developed the layout and will operate the store, while the city owns the building. The design is sleek and easy to sanitize.
Scanlon is also looking ahead, hoping to open new locations in Hampton and Richmond in the near future.
