El Mezquite set to fill vacant South Broadway neighborhood grocery store
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Things are looking up for an Albuquerque community that recently lost its only grocery store.
A member of the community used the word ‘heartbreaking’ to describe what life has been like since the doors to the Sol Supermarket closed in January. Long-time South Broadway resident Maria Gonzalez said, “It’s been tough because this is the only grocery store, we have here.”
For the community, finding a place to buy fresh food became a new challenge, especially for those without any means of transportation.
Now, the building near Broadway and Avenida Cesar Chavez is under new ownership.
“Me and my brothers the Bermudez family we just bought the shopping center now in June and the idea is to replace and rebuild the shopping center as a new El Mezquite market for the community,” said Sergio Bermudez, President & CEO of El Mezquite.
This will make the fifth El Mezquite market in town. The south Broadway neighborhood association said this is a step in the right direction.
“South Broadway is one of the poorest neighborhoods in the United States. So access to nutrient and affordable food is important especially people of low income that don’t have that access, creating that food desert,” said Onastine Jaramillo, Vice President of the South Broadway Neighborhood Association.
Gonzalez said the closure was a blow to the neighborhood. But now she has a reason to be hopeful.
“I’m super excited about the Mezquite coming in. I think it’s going to bring the community a little closer together,” said Gonzales.
The shopping center that once included other community staples like Stadium Liquors and A First Choice Community Healthcare Clinic will see some major changes including a complete parking lot revamp.
“The cheapest way to us is to just open the door and use all the equipment that was there already. But we really believe that people deserve something better than that,” said Bermudez. El Mezquite’s ownership, saying their mission is to remain true to the area’s Latino culture.
“Mezquite logo has been bringing cultures together and that’s what it means I mean coming to get the salsa, bring the tacos, what people need for the community,” said Bermudez.
In addition to a new parking lot, the building will be getting a complete re-do with a new roof, plumbing, and electrical, before El Mezquite Market opens its doors. They hope to open by next summer.
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