Today if residents of northeast Greensboro want fresh food, they must walk several miles or take a cab—but that’s about to change. On March 16, Self-Help and Renaissance Community Co-op signed a 10-year lease for a 10,530-square-foot grocery store in the Renaissance Shops at Phillips Avenue.  

Self-Help has partnered with the City of Greensboro to revitalize a nearly-abandoned shopping center that is now becoming Renaissance Shops. The first new tenant will be a cooperative store that brings fresh, healthy food to a neighborhood that has spent nearly 20 years working to get a local grocery store.

The March 16 lease-signing celebration was well attended. In addition to the Renaissance Shops Advisory Committee and RCC owners and board members, a number of local officials were present, including State Senator Gladys Robinson, Guilford County Commissioner Ray Trapp, Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan and City Council members Marikay Abuzuaiter, Jamal Fox and Sharon Hightower.

The Renaissance Community Co-op’s mission is to create a cooperatively-owned grocery store “that provides all of Greensboro with healthy foods at affordable prices and have a commitment to locally-sourced foods, community education and dignified jobs.”  RCC has raised over $2 million dollars for this project.

When complete, the Renaissance Shops at Phillips will also offer services through Greensboro Municipal Federal Credit Union, a health clinic and a pharmacy. A Family Dollar Store is already there.

The co-op is expected to open for business this fall. Self-Help is proud to be part of bringing healthier food to this community.