A newly established grocery store in Indiana aspires to be more than just another fresh produce vendor. Indy Fresh Market, which had its grand opening this month, seeks to address food insecurity in the eastern part of Indianapolis, an area that lacked a nearby supermarket for miles.
Founder and co-operator Marckus Williams describes it as a food desert where low-income residents face challenges in accessing healthy produce.
According to Williams, “For five or six miles, there was no place to get food anywhere around here unless it was the Family Dollar or gas stations.” In the past several years, this area used to have Kroger, Walmart, and Safeway stores, but they all closed down.
“It’s tough out here, and with no options on the bus line, providing healthy choices for the community’s residents is nearly impossible,” he says.
Creating Indy Fresh Market, Williams was keen on making it a second-chance employer, actively hiring individuals with prior criminal records. He understands the significance of second chances, having experienced incarceration himself.
Williams states, “Indy Fresh Market was a second chance for me. For some people, this is their first job.”
Approximately 20 out of the 41 workers at Indy Fresh Market are second-chance employees, providing them with an opportunity to not only better their own lives but also make a positive impact on a community in dire need.
The 16,772-square-foot grocery store offers a wide array of products, including national brands and locally sourced produce. A study by Indiana University’s Public Policy Institute estimates that the store will contribute over $11 million to the community.
The local community has warmly embraced the grocery store, turning it into a new local staple. Williams says, “It’s a new staple in the area now. You can run into people you haven’t seen in a while, make connections, reconnections, hugs, smiles all inside.”
Williams manages the grocery store alongside co-operator Michael McFarland, both natives of Indianapolis and experienced entrepreneurs who previously co-owned a small convenience store. The grocery store, in development since 2021, was constructed by the medical device manufacturer Cook Medical, which established a manufacturing location nearby in partnership with Goodwill Commercial Services after recognizing the urgent need for food access in the neighborhood.
Despite lacking expertise in food retail, Cook Medical collaborated with McFarland and Williams, who completed a multi-year training program to prepare for running Indy Fresh Market. Their long-term goal is to own 100% of the business and real estate through a rent-to-own model.
The store was the result of a collaborative community effort, involving organizations like IMPACT Central Indiana, United Northeast Community Development Corporation, and local and city leaders. Many of the employees, who are from the local area, have access to Goodwill’s services, including housing support, legal assistance, mental and physical healthcare, and soft skills training. For some employees, this is the first time they have seen this kind of support.
One of these employees, Cameron Barnett, was hired through the grocery store’s second-chance employee program. As a single father, he describes working at Indy Fresh Market as a blessing, as finding employment has been a challenge for him.
Barnett, who currently manages the grocery store’s meat department, is excited about the opportunity to grow with Indy Fresh Market. He emphasizes, “It’s always possible to make a change. Just stay focused on doing what you need to do. God’s gonna put some people in places for you. And when you get that opportunity, take it and run with it.”
Although Indy Fresh Market has just opened, Williams already has plans for expansion. He aims to open grocery stores in nearby cities like Carmel and Greenwood with the goal of keeping not only the Black community but also other communities well-fed.
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