New grocery store opening in a Sacramento ‘food desert’. Why residents say it’s ‘much needed’
A new grocery store is opening in Oak Park on Broadway this week, providing a vital access point to affordable and healthy foods in a historically underresourced neighborhood.
Rancho San Miguel Market will open its doors at 4401 Broadway on Wednesday, filling the void left by the closure of Food Source in March 2020. Operated by the employee-owned company PAQ Inc., Rancho San Miguel Market was originally scheduled to open in October, but delayed because of pandemic-related supply chain issues.
The store will specialize in Hispanic products and affordable goods, offering a full-service bakery, meat and seafood departments, a salsa and ceviche bar, and freshly made “Hispanic Grab & Go items,” according to store officials.
“This site is commonly referred to as a food desert. There are no low-cost grocery store options in the Oak Park, Tahoe Park and Elmhurst neighborhoods,” said PAQ Inc. CEO Bill Cote in a statement. “Our stores are designed to appeal to price conscious consumers with quality products.”
Nearly 4,000 people in Oak Park lacked reliable access to affordable, nutritious food in 2020, or nearly 20% of residents, according to data the Chicago-based nonprofit Feeding America. The lower-income neighborhood has a significant number of residents living more than half a mile away from the nearest supermarket, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
While many food policy experts say food deserts — areas where grocery stores and food markets are scarce — are not a primary cause for food insecurity, they can be a symbol of a lack of government and private investment.
“It’s much needed, I’m glad it’s opening,” said Michael Benjamin II, a member of the Oak Park Neighborhood Association.
Since the closure of Food Source, Oak Park residents have been buying groceries at the Foods Co. near Fruitridge Road and Stockton Boulevard, and the Safeway at Curtis Park.
But for people without access to a car, or with mobility issues, having a neighborhood grocery store again will be a huge asset.
“There’s a lot of elderly in that area,” Benjamin said. “One of my best friend’s mom lives around the corner, that will be a big help for her.”
Raley’s, which operates Food Source, announced in January 2020 that it would not renew the lease of two Sacramento stores, noting a decline in foot traffic and sales.
It was a decision that frustrated some Oak Park residents, and city officials worked to quickly get the space filled again. Last April, Sacramento City Council approved a $1.1 million loan to help Rancho San Miguel Markets renovate the commercial space.
Across California, PAQ Inc. operates sixteen Food 4 Less stores and six other Rancho San Miguel Markets. In 2020, the company took over two other Food Source locations and opened Food 4 Less stores in Rio Linda and Rancho Cordova. The Broadway location will be the first Rancho San Miguel Market in Sacramento.
This story was originally published February 28, 2022 at 3:00 AM.