Green Grocer Launches New Hill District Location at the Old Shop ‘n Save

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank announced today the new location for Green Grocer’s Hill District stop starting February 4, 2020. The mobile farmers market will visit the old Shop ‘n Save parking lot each Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. The Hill District Shop ‘n Save closed nearly one year ago and was the community’s only full-service grocery store.

“We are excited to move to this new location in the Hill District,” said Lisa Scales, President & CEO of Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. “The Food Bank is focused on improving people’s access to nutritious food. Bringing our mobile market of fresh fruits and vegetables and other core grocery items to the Centre Heldman Plaza--a more visible site—enables us to better serve the community. We are grateful to the URA, the Hill CDC and our other partners for helping us ensure that more of our neighbors have access to fresh, affordable food.”

Green Grocer previously operated its Hill District market at the Thelma Lovette YMCA. While it created food access in the Hill District, it was not the easiest location for residents to get to. The Food Bank was able to secure the new location after conversations with the current owner of Centre Heldman Plaza, the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA).

“When Green Grocer communicated the need for a more convenient location to service existing customers in the Hill District, the URA wanted to find a way to help. Given the URA’s ownership of the Centre Heldman Plaza, we were in a position to use publicly held land to meet an acute community need,” URA Deputy Executive Director Diamonte Walker said. "Although not a full grocer, it provides immediate access to a fresh food source as we deploy a long-term strategy to hopefully reactivate the grocery store. We hope this more convenient location proves beneficial to the community.”

Pittsburgh City Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle represents the Hill District.

“I am grateful for the work of the URA and their new partnership with Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. The new location for Green Grocer will ensure Hill residents, especially our seniors, have the best possible access to healthy food,” Councilman Lavelle said.

Green Grocer makes 17 stops in 17 Allegheny County neighborhoods each week, all of which are considered “food deserts.” Residents of these areas do not have immediate access to fresh, healthy, affordable food from grocery stores, farmers markets or other healthful food options. The mobile farmers market sells fresh produce, frozen meats, dry goods, and other grocery items, creating greater food access. Green Grocer is a program of Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.