More than just a grocery store, the closing of Cub Foods in Midway is shaking up a community already navigating huge changes. From daily essentials to deeper social ties, what does this mean for residents who’ve relied on it for decades? The impact goes far beyond the shopping cart.
The recent Cub Foods closure in Midway St. Paul represents far more than the simple shuttering of a grocery store; it marks a pivotal moment for a community already grappling with significant urban transformation and highlights critical issues around food access and food security. This event has sent ripples through the district, challenging residents and local organizations to adapt to a landscape where essential services are becoming increasingly scarce.
For decades, the Midway area has been a crucible of change, enduring various shifts in its urban fabric. Echoes of past anxieties resonate, particularly from nearly two decades ago when community discussions about the light rail line revealed deep concerns about potential alterations to the area’s social makeup and the overshadowing influence of large-scale community development projects. These historical anxieties now seem prescient, as the departure of a major grocer adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing evolution of Midway.
The immediate impact of the Cub Foods closure is profoundly felt by residents, particularly those without personal vehicles who now face arduous journeys to more distant, often more expensive, alternatives. This exacerbates the existing challenges of food access, forcing many to compromise on convenience, affordability, or both. The loss of a central, reliable source of groceries places an undue burden on vulnerable populations within the Midway St. Paul community.
Anika Bowie, the City Council member for Ward 1, acknowledges the profound challenges while also identifying potential silver linings. She notes that while the Cub Foods closure leaves a significant void, especially for BIPOC residents who relied on it for culturally specific ethnic foods, it also creates an opportunity. This moment, she suggests, could be a catalyst for the community to rally around its smaller, independent food providers.
Bowie’s vision includes uplifting the area’s existing network of smaller grocery stores, co-ops, ethnic businesses, and farmers markets. These establishments, she argues, have quietly served the community for years and now have a chance to step into the spotlight and better connect with residents searching for new sources of fresh and affordable food. This shift could foster a more resilient and localized local economy around food provision.
However, the intricacies of food security in Midway extend beyond individual shopping habits. Julia McCarthy, director of programs for Keystone Community Services, emphasizes the broader systemic implications. Keystone operates a vital food shelf in the area, which has seen an increase in visits, demonstrating a growing need within the community. The closure of Cub Foods directly impacts their operations, as large grocery stores are crucial partners in their food supply chain.
McCarthy explains that a substantial portion—approximately 30 to 40 percent—of the food distributed by the shelf is donated by grocery retailers like Cub Foods. These donations, often items nearing their expiration date or overstocked, provide access to higher-quality produce, meats, and other goods that the food shelf might otherwise struggle to afford. The Cub Foods closure therefore not only affects consumer food access but also compromises the ability of essential services to meet community needs, creating a complex challenge for food security in Midway St. Paul.
Ultimately, this situation transcends the simple narrative of a store closing; it speaks to the ongoing struggle of a community striving to retain its identity and ensure the well-being of its residents amidst relentless urban development. The future of Midway St. Paul hinges on whether new plans and opportunities genuinely consider the needs of its long-standing population, ensuring that progress benefits all, not just a select few.
