Charlotte nonprofit buys West End shopping center to boost community food options

Historic West End Partners has big plans for its $1.3 million purchase of a Beatties Ford shopping center with Local Initiatives Support Corp .

The 6,148 square-foot center at 1121 Beatties Ford Road is called Thrive Food Hub, the Charlotte nonprofit said Wednesday. The center will add a renovated commercial kitchen space and open space for meetings and dining.

The food hub, which will include a convenience store, also helps fill a long-standing need in the west side of Charlotte which lacks access to traditional grocery stores .

‘They’re not coming’: Grocery stores abound, but Charlotte food deserts still prevalent

The one-story center built in 1986 sold on May 22, Mecklenburg County property records show.

It’s part of Historic West End Partners’ effort in the West End corridor to retain commercial properties, recruit small businesses, and fill service and amenities gaps, the group’s founder and executive director J’Tanya Adams said in a statement.

As part of “Thrive” revitalization, The Pauline Tea-Bar Apothecary opened its second location in January at 1017 Beatties Ford Road, CharotteFive previously reported. Other businesses include Family Mankind Counseling, 704 Cleaners and Black Pearl Vision, which features eyewear by Black designers.

The community is one of the city’s oldest Black neighborhoods.

About Thrive Food Hub

The Beatties Ford center already has two tenants: Beatties Ford Corner Mart and Bite Your Tongue Authentic New Orleans Cuisine.

DPR Construction provided in-kind renovations totaling $300,000 to upfit the existing space. Historic West End Business Association will hold monthly meetings in the new meeting space.

And, the group plans to add two resident chefs and a rotation of pop-up restaurants to use the kitchen space.

The convenience store will offer fresh food options, including EBT-eligible foods, helping to relieve pressure in one of the city’s largest food deserts . A food desert is an area with little access to fresh, healthy food.

Officials with Historic West End Partners did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday.

And in May, Mecklenburg County commissioners approved $1.5 million to help California specialty grocer Spangler’s build a 8,000 square-foot market at the corner Kohler and Statesville avenues. It’s less than 2 miles east of Thrive Food Hub.

About the Charlotte groups

Historic West End Partners is a grassroots organization. It was founded in 2010 to advocate for cultural preservation and economic development in the Historic West End.

LISC, the country’s largest community development organization, was founded 40 years ago. LISC Charlotte provides economic investment and development strategy resources to minority developers for commercial projects in Historic West End.

Since March 2019, LISC Charlotte has invested over $44 million in Charlotte in partnership with the city, philanthropic leaders, corporations and community organizations.