JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A historic community store in the heart of Eastside neighborhood will see new life this summer, eliminating a Food Desert tag for the area.
With fresh produce, The Corner at Debs Store is the culmination of several community organizations joining forces to restore the beloved grocery store. It's located at the corner of Florida Avenue and Fifth Street.
LIFT JAX, the Debs family, VyStar Credit Union, and Goodwill Industries of North Florida worked together to create a vision for the store.
LIFT JAX President David Garfunkel said the business founded in 1921 was a bedrock for the community and now it can serve the same function again.
“The grand re-opening of The Debs Store is a monumental step toward enhancing well-being and quality of life for Eastside residents. Our multifaceted approach to ensuring access to necessary resources like fresh food, career services and financial resources will address immediate needs and support long-term prosperity in the neighborhood.”
Goodwill will manage the daily operations of the 5,000-square-foot building. The first floor will house the 1,800-square-foot community market. The company will run staffing, retail management, inventory, and customer service. A Goodwill GoodCareers Center will occupy the second floor of the restored building, bringing employment and job training for Debs Store neighbors.
VyStar will have a surcharge-free ATM and offer financial services.
It's set to open this summer. For more information and to learn how to help, click here.
