On Monday, Dec. 9, community members will learn who is interested in running a new grocery store on Cherry Avenue in Charlottesville.
The announcement will come at the end of the final “Buy Back the Block” conversation, hosted by the Fifeville Neighborhood Association and Deanna McDonald of RN HeartWork LLC. At the meeting, the groups will first present findings from their recent community survey on food access.
The purpose of the meeting is for community members to hear those survey results, which includes information on what kind of grocery store local residents would like to see at 501 Cherry Ave., the site of the former Estes IGA Grocery. The property was purchased by Woodard Properties in 2022, and since then the developer has worked with the neighborhood association and other organizations to plan a new development there that includes housing, space for local nonprofits and a grocery store.
Following that presentation, the groups will ask community members to share their perspectives on the possible grocery store project.
“As yet, no one has committed to taking ownership of this store — whether as a sole proprietor, nonprofit or community-owned food co-op,” according to a news release announcing the final Buy Back the Block event.
But, since the last Buy Back the Block in October, a few people have expressed interest in opening and operating the grocery store.
McDonald expects a few of them to be there Monday night, though she wasn’t sure who exactly would attend, and wouldn’t say who they are.
That information will be announced at the meeting.
“The Fifeville Neighborhood Association will also share an update on conversations it has had with people and organizations interested in running a new grocery store in Charlottesville,” Sarah Malpass, with the Fifeville Neighborhood Association, wrote in an email to Charlottesville Tomorrow
Take Action
“Buy Back the Block 4: Voices in Action: Unveiling Survey Results & Shaping Our Future” is part of an ongoing conversation about the possibility of a grocery store at 501 Cherry Ave. It will take place Monday, Dec. 9, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Mount Zion First African Baptist Church, 105 Lankford Ave. in Charlottesville. Register for the event by Thurs., Dec. 5, here. Read the latest update on the 501 Cherry Ave. project here.
Editor’s note: The people interested in running a grocery store on Cherry Avenue will not present at the Buy Back the Block 4 meeting on Monday Dec. 9. A previous version of this report said they would.
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More about the Cherry Avenue project
Tick Tock: Deadline looms for Cherry Avenue grocery store, housing project decisions
Developers remain optimistic, but fear increased construction costs each passing day.
A proposal for a grocery store and an apartment building on Cherry Avenue is back before the Planning Commission
Any community members who have opinions about this development are invited to make comments at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
A developer’s proposal could bring a grocery store back to Fifeville
Woodard Properties proposed a supermarket, community space and new apartment building to the Charlottesville Planning Commission last week.
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