Mortician Opens Grocery store

Understanding that there is a large difference between being a mortician and a running a retail store, he knows there will be setbacks. So, first his wife interned at Eddie’s Market in a nearby neighborhood to learn the business. Also, three banks turned them down before they secured help from The Reinvestment Fund in Philadelphia. Once they broke the barrier and got their first help, assistance from the city and state followed.

March said his store will have some competition but noted that people who live in the older neighborhoods here have few choices unless they own a car and drive to more distant markets. He also has set aside a community space for food demonstrations and healthful cooking classes.

“This venture grew out of my wife’s determination to build up this community,” March said. “You cannot do that without some basic ingredients, and access to healthy food is the place to start.”

March, president of the East North Avenue Community Development Corp., said he engaged in talks with “big stores” and found they were not interested in his neighborhood.

“I thought that if nobody was going to do it, we will have to do it ourselves. It’s a mission, an exciting mission,” March said. “We’ve had nothing but encouragement.”

For more about their store, click here.

Mortician Opens Fresh Food Store Because He Was Tired of Seeing People Die - Page 2  was originally published on blackdoctor.org