Chicago Inches Closer to City-Owned Grocery Store

Study Finds It Necessary and Feasible

WEB Chicago could fill its food desert with a three-store network of city-owned grocery stores for an upfront cost of $267 million, a consultant has found.

Mayor Brandon Johnson is pitching the creation of a city-owned grocery store in an effort to reverse historic disinvestment in food access. A city-owned grocery store in the South or West side of Chicago would be a viable way to restore access to healthy food in areas that have been underserved by the private sector.

The study, conducted by the consulting firm A.T. Kearney, found that there is a need for a city-owned grocery store in Chicago, and that it is feasible to operate one. The study also found that a city-owned grocery store would have a positive impact on the community, including increasing access to healthy food, creating jobs, and boosting the local economy.

The mayor's office is now working on a plan to develop a city-owned grocery store. The plan is expected to be released in the coming months.