‘Market Fresh Gourmet’ Grocery Store Coming to Center/West Development
Market Fresh Gourmet will be opening an 8,000 sq. ft. grocery store at the Avra apartment building located in the Center/West development in Poppleton. Construction is expected to begin in spring at a retail site on northwest corner of the development at Fayette and Schroder St.
Center/West is a large-scale redevelopment of 32.94 acres of land by La Cité Development. La Cité Development will ultimately build 3.2 million sq. ft., creating approximately 1,800 units of mixed housing through four phases of construction. Phase One of Center/West was completed in 2020 and consists of two five-story buildings (Avra and Ciro) which have a combined 262 apartments. Those units, which include tax credit affordable units, market rate units, and voucher units are now 60 percent leased.
Market Fresh Gourmet is a minority-owned Maryland-based business that is partnering with Arctaris Impact Fund, which is a fund focused on building sustainable communities in Baltimore City. The grocery store will focus on local employment opportunities with recruitment and training efforts through its workforce development programs. The grocer will provide fresh foods and prepared foods along with classes and special events for the neighborhood. As other phases of the Center/West project come online, the grocer will also expand its footprint.
La Cité is currently negotiating on additional retail spaces, including a restaurant prospect at Avra and Ciro.
“The quality of produce and nutritious options inside a local grocery store will tell you a lot about the surrounding community, and residents in the Poppleton neighborhood deserve better,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott in a press release. “This Center/West venture helps address the food desert predicament in Southwest Baltimore by expanding access to healthy food while also providing job opportunities to local residents. I look forward to welcoming Market Fresh Gourmet to the community.”
“Our entire business is about improving neighborhoods and uncompromising quality of life,” said Dan Bythewood, Jr., president and managing partner of La Cité Development, in a press release. “We welcome the Market Fresh Gourmet brand as one of our newest partners and look forward to welcoming additional partners as we continue to invest in the area.”
“We’re excited to work with La Cité Development in bringing our brand to Southwest Baltimore,” said Market Fresh CEO Mario Minor in a press release. “On behalf of the Market Fresh team, we’re ready to serve the community by offering fresh, affordable selections and integrated technologies to support all shopping options. Along with recruiting and training associates locally, we also look forward to offering local products and helping others gain exposure and build their brands.”
Phase Two at Center/West will include a hotel and an additional apartment building.
About the Author: Kevin Lynch
Founder and Publisher of SouthBmore.com, longtime resident of South Baltimore, and a graduate of Towson University. Diehard Ravens and O's fan, father of three, amateur pizza chef, skateboarder, and "bar food" foodie. Email me at Kevin@InceptMM.com and follow me on Twitter at @SoBoKevin.
