New supermarket brings health, wealth and hope to the QC's deprived

Written by Ian Flanegan – email

SOUTHWEST CHARLOTTE (WBTV) – A grocery store with altruistic ambitions opened Sunday in an area in need of revamping.

The staff at Galaxy Foods cut the ribbon today, officially opening doors and signifying a new approach to health, wealth and happiness to the corner of West Arrowood and Nations Ford Roads.

"You talk with the people, you talk with the mothers in the households, they're fighting to make the community better," says Omar Jorge, General Manager of Galaxy Food Center.

Jorge sees a bright future for the supermarket and its neighborhood.  He says 75 -100 jobs could be created when the store hits its projected capacity.  He plans to fill these positions with people from the neighborhood.

Feeding this neighborhood well is another of the store's targets, says Jorge.  In what's been defined as a Food Desert, people in this area are miles away from fresh, high-quality food.

"There's not a lot of options for fresh foods on this side of town," concedes Jorge.  "We're providing an option for the community to get fresh foods; to get fruits, vegetables, meat – their groceries, at a fair price."

The people of this community, Galaxy Foods staff included, are eager for the chance to buy high-quality foods at low cost, close to home.

"I think it's great because it's so close and here there is so much variety, many fresh things," Irma Urrutia told WBTV in Spanish.  Galaxy plans to cater to the large Hispanic population in this area.

Carlos Martinez, a construction worker from Mexico also lives in the area.  He says he's happy to see the new addition to the neighborhood as well.  "Usually I go to [another grocery store], but now I'll go to Galaxy Foods because here, they're the best and least expensive for us to buy."

Galaxy Food Center, is not a charity: they're seeking profits just like every other business, but management agrees that providing a healthier, lower-cost option for food (while providing employment at the same time) will lead to far-reaching positive consequences.

"We're fighting to make the community a little better," says Jorge.

You can read more about Food Deserts in Charlotte by clicking here.  You can also watch a report by WBTV's Dedrick Russell here.

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