New grocery store breaks ground as part of Cook Medical project

A new grocery store broke ground Wednesday in a northeast Indianapolis neighborhood. It’s the latest step for the grocers partnering with a medical device company.

Indy Fresh Market will be owned by two men from the Arlington Woods neighborhood. One of those men, Michaell McFarland says the full service store will increase healthy food access in this underserved area.

“A good event for the community, something uplifting for the community instead of crime and murder, so something uplifting,” McFarland said.

The deal is part of a partnership with Cook Medical that is opening up a new plant in this area considered a food desert. The store will sit in front of the Cook building.  The company plans to invest in social capital in the community through efforts like the grocery.

READ MORE: In Northeast Indianapolis, Business Pushes Boundaries In Trend To Counter Community Disinvestment

United Northeast Community Development Corporation Executive Director Ashley Gurvitz said the milestone is a result of true collaboration.

“We can scale up if we come together and forever be grateful for this partnership,” Gurwitz said, “to now allow them to know that within years they will have their own generational wealth building and opportunity to pass that on to their own.”

READ MORE: Indianapolis Entrepreneurs Prepare To Operate New Grocery Store Funded By Cook Medical

McFarland and his partner, Marckus Williams, will run the new $2.5 million store through a rent to own model.

Other partners in the project include the Central Indiana Community Foundation and Martin University.

Contact WFYI city government and policy reporter Jill Sheridan at jsheridan@wfyi.org. Follow on Twitter: @JillASheridan.