City hungers for buyer to take over vacant store

YOUNGSTOWN — The city is requesting proposals from those interested in buying the vacant former Bottom Dollar grocery store at 2649 Glenwood Ave., with preference to be given to plans to reopen it as a grocery store.

“We need to get that location reopened simply because of the accessibility of that store to an entire market of citizens who don’t have sufficient access to a grocery store,” said Mayor John A. McNally.

“I’m not looking to put in a convenience store; I’m looking for a full-service grocery,” he added. “We need more grocery stores, and that’s going to be one of our biggest focuses in 2016.”

“That area remains a food desert without a store there,” said Sarah Lown, public finance manager at the Western Reserve Port Authority and a former economic-

development specialist for the city.

About 74 percent of city residents live in food deserts, which Youngstown State University defines as urban areas more than one mile from a full-service grocery store.

The city will accept proposals for the Glenwood Avenue store until noon Feb. 1 in its finance department.

Those interested may tour the store from 3 to 4 p.m. Jan. 5 and 19. There is no established minimum price.

The 18,000-square-foot store, built on the 5.1-acre site in 2011, has been unused since January 2015 and now has no equipment or shelving in place.

ALDI Inc., which acquired 66 former Bottom Dollar stores, including this one, has turned this store over to the city.

For the complete story, read Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com