Overtown, food desert no more by Carolyn Guniss

Overtown, food desert no more by Carolyn Guniss

Overtown’s first major grocery store in more than 12 years opened last Wednesday in Overtown Plaza, ending the community’s reputation as a food desert.

The Top Value supermarket opened to brisk business the day before Hurricane Matthew was expected to affect South Florida.

“Top Value is the first supermarket to open and operate in Overtown in a little over 12 years and it is a project in collaboration with the owner,” said Clarence Woods, the executive director of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency (SEOPW CRA).

The CRA had been trying to bring a major grocery store to Overtown since 2012.

To lure this one, the CRA leased Top Value’s 17,000-square-foot space to VSMD Food Corp., whose principal is Melanio Diaz. The CRA also gave VSMD a $200,000 grant and a $400,000 loan to assist with construction costs. Bringing the grocery store is part of an overall plan to revitalize Overtown Plaza. April 2015, the plaza was reopened after a facelift with new tenants, Fancy Beauty Supply, Metro PCS and Two Guys Restaurant, a Caribbean and seafood eatery. So far, the CRA has invested $2.2 million for renovations.

Overtown became a food desert when Crown Supermarket, which was in the current location as Top Value, closed. A community that does not have adequate grocery stores or they are not in proximity to people without cars is known as a food desert. The Sun Sentinel in December reported that there are 326 communities in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties that are considered food deserts. The report said that as many as 240,000 residents, including many seniors and disabled, currently live in the food deserts.

Overtown is peppered with mom and pop or corner stores but most do not sell fresh produce. Last Wednesday, shoppers loaded up their carts, some with cases of water in preparation for the storm.

The store has a hot food counter, a butcher and a generous produce section. There is grocery delivery service.

“We think things are going great, great,” said a worker in the store.

Local residents and business owners and other officials joined Commission Chairman Keon Hardemon and Willy Gort at the ribbon-cutting Wednesday.

“Today is an amazing day because the people of Overtown have the opportunity to experience their neighborhood like any other neighborhood,” said Hardemon. “So they can shop, dine, eat, they can come to this place and buy all the essential goods they need.”

Berlinda Faye Dixon, who was recently appointed to the Overtown Advisory Board, attended the grand opening to facilitate what she called “a smooth transition.”

“I am here to make sure that we have a smooth transition because we do have some cultural differences with the owner of the store,” said Faye Dixon. I am “encouraging the security guard to smile to say please and thank you in English, and encouraging the cashiers to look people in the eye,” she said.

Roshad Smiley, a lifelong resident of Overtown, visited the store on Thursday with a friend, who bought a few items. He wonders why the new store isn’t Black-owned.

“Not hating on the other that put their money together to open that store but we as Black people got to get back to owning our own markets, stores and properties. Other races are continuing to profit off us,” said Smiley.

Andre Williams said the new supermarket is a statement for Overtown but found the cost for produce a little pricey.

“The things that are good for you are way up,” Williams said of the fruits and vegetables at the store. “But the things are not good are priced OK.”

Otherwise, he said, the grocery store is a nice addition to Overtown.

“Today was tremendous. From blight to bright,” said Williams.
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