Market on Melrose to Open November 13, Bringing Fresh Food to Roanoke Food Desert
New grocery store marks first phase of Melrose Plaza community hub
Roanoke, Va. (October 21, 2024) – Market on Melrose, a new grocery store aimed at addressing food insecurity in Northwest Roanoke’s food desert, will celebrate its grand opening on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. The store is the first service to open in Melrose Plaza, a transformational community hub designed to provide resources to eliminate poverty.
“We are excited to bring this resource to our community,” said Amanda Taylor-Napier, director of business services. “As Melrose Plaza seeks to provide resources to eliminate poverty, it only makes sense to first address food insecurity.”
The 15,000-square-foot Market on Melrose will offer a wide variety of fresh produce, meats, dairy products and pantry staples, with an emphasis on nutritious and affordable options.
Grand Opening events will begin with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. on November 13. “The ribbon cutting will be a chance for us to honor the local community partnerships that helped make this project a reality,” said President and CEO Richmond Vincent. “We can’t wait to open the doors and have the community experience this tremendous resource.”
Festivities will continue on Saturday, November 16, when the store will host a Family Fun Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring free activities for kids and adults.
“We can’t wait to meet our customers and look forward to helping them as they come to the Market to get household staples that they need,” said Tina Lafone, grocery store manager. “Our team is dedicated to exceptional customer service, and we want everyone to feel welcomed when they walk in the doors.”
Market on Melrose is the first phase of the larger Melrose Plaza project. The Melrose Plaza lobby is expected to open in the spring, followed closely by the Excel Center – the first adult high school in Virginia. Future phases will include the opening of Wellness on Melrose and the Bank of Botetourt branch.