General store with local produce to fill old MacArthur Pharmacy in Norfolk

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The former home of MacArthur Pharmacy in Downtown Norfolk is swapping out prescription drugs for fresh, local produce.

The space at 261 Granby Street will officially reopen on Thursday as MacArthur General Store, paying homage to the longtime cornerstone in the community. It closed back in July after more than two decades in business.

The new store will still feature many of the same household items you could find before, like toilet paper, toothpaste and over-the-counter medicines.

However, the ability to regularly buy locally-grown produce is something new for the Downtown area. Despite efforts for years to attract one, downtown still doesn’t have a traditional grocery store.

Just down the street, Granby Bistro & Deli switched to more of a neighborhood market concept during the pandemic, with grocery staples and many shelf-stable items, but it features a more limited selection of fresh produce.

And farmer’s markets like one on Saturdays at the MacArthur Center Green have been limited to certain days.

“There’s a total food desert. If someone doesn’t have like the cucumbers and squash they need to make a nice healthy meal, they might resort to ramen or something,” said Brett Darlington, a managing partner for the store on behalf of local developer Bobby Wright.

Darlington says they’ll start off getting fresh food from handful of local farmers, but could have up to as many as 30 suppliers depending on the season, with everything from tomatoes and potatoes to mushrooms and microgreens. They’re also working to have fresh seafood such as clams, oysters and fish.

The store also wants to help educate consumers about the benefits of eating fresh food, with suggestions on how to pair and prepare items.

“Putting olive oil next to a tomato and saying, if you sizzle this, this is literally amazing for you,” Darlington said.

Darlington says the big thing they’re focused on going forward is trying to make things as affordable as possible. They’ll also be reaching out to local students at nearby Tidewater Community College.

“Trying to figure out how we can do that is really important,” said Darlington, an ODU alum. “One of those things is making it so that we can get this produce organically, locally and cost-effectively. That way the customers, anybody, it doesn’t matter how much you make, or who you are, you can get good produce.”

Thursday will be soft opening for the store, with about one-third of the products you’ll see in the future, Darlington said. They’ll also be open daily to start: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Meanwhile, the Downtown Norfolk Council says attracting a larger grocer to the area still remains a goal, and they’re very excited about the general store.

“We’re thrilled to welcome the new general store to Downtown Norfolk in the former MacArthur Pharmacy space,” the council said in a statement. “Local businesses are an essential part of the vibrancy and unique character of Downtown, and this addition will offer convenient access to everyday essentials for residents, workers, and visitors alike.”

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