Renee Thompson Truehart and Tyra Gallagher are on a quest to open a Black-owned grocery store in Richmond, Virginia.
Darrell’s Family Supermarket, named after Renee’s younger brother Darrell who died in October, aims to be a grocery store that provides healthy meals for families at a reasonable price.
“His kind and gentle soul knew no stranger, everyone was family [a]nd that is how we will operate our market,” the two said in a statement. “We will know no strangers when you walk in our store, you will walk out family.”
The Mother-Daughter duo purchased the space after Food Rite Supermarket closed down, leaving the community with limited access to healthy food. The women used the closing as an opportunity to fulfill their dream of owning a grocery store.
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“We are so excited about Darrell’s Family Supermarket because it allows our neighbors to provide healthy meals for their families close to home, for a reasonable price,” the women said.
And while they hope to open by the end of the year, there are some challenges. They have not found a wholesale food supplier that would accept the financial terms that work for their business model. They also need local food vendors that would fit the store’s needs.
The women have started a GoFundMe to help raise funds for the necessary repairs in the store. Their goal is to raise $95,000.