There’s a new grocer coming to town!
A New York women’s empowerment organization just announced its plans to open the first Black-owned supermarket in the tri-state area, BlackNews.com reports.
Think Like a Boss is a NY based social organization aimed at “improving communities through women empowerment, entrepreneurship, teen programs, and media content.” Founder & CEO Alexandra Bernard Simmons plans to continue that mission through the org’s latest endeavor, a Black-owned supermarket.
Seneca Market, named in honor of NYC’s first Black village that was destroyed to build Central Park, will make history as the first Black-owned supermarket in the tri-state area. Simmons plans to focus on cooperative economics on a foundational level for the grocer, sourcing directly from Black farmers, suppliers, entrepreneurs, and wholesalers. The first market is scheduled to open in New Jersey but there are also plans to eventually franchise, with New York and Philadelphia being first in line for optimal store locations.
“We have to adopt the mindset that buying from and supporting Black businesses is for progress and not just for protest. In 2020, we’ve seen our lives completely turned upside down as we’ve been forced to navigate two pandemics,” Simmons said. “A virus that has brought us to a standstill while racism has brought us to our knees. Seneca Market is a new opportunity for Black people to take ownership in supporting such a crucial part of their neighborhoods.”
There are currently less than 10 Black-owned supermarkets in the U.S. Despite being a source for food, they are a key marker of any prosperous community, doubling as employment centers and local gathering places. A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to support the development of Seneca Market with the goal of raising $500,000 before the October 19th deadline.
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Photo Courtesy of BlackNews.com