The Pontiac Street Market Grand Opening

By  Dynastii Jenkins  (12)
dynastii.jenkins@fwcsstudents.org 

December 14, 2023

The Pontiac Street Market is a full-service grocery that will provide fresh, healthy, and affordable food within walking distance of 25,000 residents. The project arose through community input and will improve food access in a USDA-designated Food Desert. 

“As you go through the aisles, they have everyday essentials!,” Andrea Jenkins (9) said.

Although the store wasn’t fully stocked for the past few days, there were plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables filling the produce aisle and shelves stocked with canned and boxed goods. 

 “There is a bus stop there and the store will offer delivery options in the future. One of the reasons the site was chosen is the population numbering several thousand and the area’s walkability,” Mayor Tom Henry said. 

Mayor Tom Henry arrived at the media tour inside the full service grocery store in southeast Fort Wayne at 918 E. Pontiac St. to observe the store’s management and qualities. 

“Having a little market close to our home isn’t so bad. At least we will get some of the stuff we need that are important,” Breion Booker (8) said. 

The City of Fort Wayne’s Community Development Neighborhood Planning and Activation workgroup provided residents of the adjacent neighborhoods an opportunity to provide feedback on preferred products and services offered at the Pontiac Street Market. 

“There exists a strategy with two prongs,” Laqueisha Brown said. 

The Pontiac Street Market received approvals from the Redevelopment Commission and City Council to invest $3.4 million on the upfront construction costs. The funding includes $2 million in federal funds, $700,000 from Local Income Tax (LIT), and $700,000 from the Redevelopment Capital Fund. 

“They have a sandwich counter run by Sodexo, tables to sit and chat and eat, and other amenities normally found at a market,” Kamarriena Booker (11) said.

The collaboration between the city and Parkview Regional Medical Center and Affiliates led to the establishment of the Pontiac Street Market.

During the process of gathering input for future investments, the neighborhood representatives recognized a crucial requirement for accessible and reasonably priced food choices in that specific area of the city.

“Having a grocery store close by home is very shocking and interesting because at least the things that we need in case if you forgot it, then you can just get it right away instead of far out there,” Ge’juan Johnson (12) said. 

City officials have relied on input from neighborhood leaders and community organizations throughout the process to ascertain the range of products and services that the grocery store should provide.

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