FOREST PARK, Ill. (WLS) — This Saturday saw a turnout of customers supporting a Black-owned grocery store in the suburbs, which warned it might close without community assistance.
The proprietors of Living Fresh Market in Forest Park state that business hasn’t been what it once was, and a closure would resonate beyond just the store itself.
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The community showed up and showed out in their effort to keep the local grocery store in the neighborhood.
For the first time in a long time, Living Fresh Market was packed.
“It’s a valuable store, and I think people… should know about it,” shopper Lalita Pittman said.
Saturday morning, shoppers answered the call to help the grocery store stay open and filled the aisles.
Because of the fact it’s a Black-owned business, and we have to support our own.
Larry Roberts Jr., Larry’s Barber Colleges
“We opened the doors at 7 a.m., and people immediately started coming,” said Melody Winston, a senior executive at Living Fresh Market. “So far, about 800 people have come through today.”
Given the store’s significant financial troubles, the owners issued a public appeal this week, enlisting local businessman and philanthropist Early Walker for support. In a social media post, he committed to purchasing $500 in groceries and encouraged a thousand others to spend $100 each at the store on Saturday.
On average, a large grocery store sees at least around 2,000 customers a day.
“This is about jobs, workers, families, and small businesses,” Walker stated. “We can’t compete with large retailers if our community doesn’t support it.”
Plenty were eager to support the cause, like Chicagoan and first-time Living Fresh Market shopper Rachel Little.
“Social media was blowing up… so I showed up,” Little said. “I drove an hour. I drove an hour to come get my groceries.”
Living Fresh Market ranks among the largest Black-owned grocery stores nationwide. It is owned by Pastor Bill Winston of the Living Word Church and his family, who also own the mall where the store resides.
“We’ve made it something that’s enterprising and meet the needs of the community, so we want this to not be your last visit,” Winston said.
The owners admit that business has remained slow since the pandemic. Tariffs, along with people losing jobs and food assistance benefits being cut, have not helped either.
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While it’s estimated about a third of the market’s customers get SNAP benefits to buy groceries, the store also supports other small businesses by selling their products in the store.
“I definitely have a stake in here in order to make the store stay here,” said Larry Roberts Jr. with Larry’s Barber Colleges. “Nevertheless, because of the fact it’s a Black-owned business, and we have to support our own.”
Living Fresh Market is heavily involved in the community, offering a mentoring program and providing assistance to local food pantries and shelters.
Supporters say that this effort can’t end here. They’re asking that the public come back to the store at least twice a month in support all in an effort to help it stay in the community.
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