DAYTON, Ohio — A $50M grocery store is setting up shop in a place considered a food desert in Ohio.

What You Need To Know

  • The group, 'Homefull' is behind the project, and the group's CEO says there will not only be groceries but health care, jobs and child care 

  • Longtime residents in the Pineview neighborhood in West Dayton say this is the first time in years a grocery store has been in this area after many stores moved out 

  • The new grocery store is expected to be finished in 18 months 

For the first time, Lisa Rucker will be able to walk to the grocery store. A new one is under construction right across the street from her house on Gettysburg Ave in West Dayton.

“I'm kinda sad about the green space and vacant homes that were demolished, but I'm very hopeful for the neighborhood to continue to go along successfully,” said Rucker. 

No grocery stores have been in the Pineview neighborhood in years and she’s been here more than 50 years.

“I think it's definitely overdue,” said Rucker. 

She said grocers were slowly moving out and residents were left with not much more than a couple of gas stations and a general store.

“I normally go about seven, ten miles out to get groceries.However, I'm well aware that there are many in this community that are not that blessed, and so to travel outside of the neighborhood to get groceries is a struggle, is a challenge for some," said Rucker. 

With a dig of some shovels, that’s about to change. Construction officially started Thursday afternoon on the $50M grocery store.

“Seeing it and seeing dirt moved and people and excitement and everything else says this is this is probably one of the most exciting days in a very long time for this community," said Homefull CEO Tina Patterson. 

Homefull is the group behind the new grocery store. Patterson says it's taken four years to get to this point and they’re planning for much more than groceries here.

“A health care clinic with primary care offices. Home force administrative offices will also be located here and jobs to a community and eventually housing and quality child care,” said Patterson.

The grocery store is expected to be finished in the next 18 months. By then, Rucker said she’s might be doing more than shopping here too.

“Maybe after a few more years of retirement, I may even get a part-time job there,” said Rucker.