Eliminating a Food Desert
The site of the new grocery store in the Jonathan Street neighborhood.
Horizon Goodwill is opening a grocery store in the Jonathan Street neighborhood to provide convenient access to healthy food
By Rebecca Chaney / Photography by Mark Youngblood
Imagine not having easy access to a gallon of milk, bread, fresh fruits and vegetables, and protein options. This is a reality for millions of people in many parts of the country, even here in some neighborhoods of Hagerstown.
City residents are looking forward to a new 14,000-square-foot grocery store which will open in the Johnathan Street neighborhood in late 2025. Jake Day, secretary of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (MDHCD), says it’s been far too long that the area has been considered a “food desert,” defined as parts of cities or communities that don’t have convenient access to fresh and healthy food.
“That might mean not having a grocery store or corner market,” Day says. “We envision grocery stores today as these massive 50,000-square-foot Wegmans Market food halls, but even a relatively small business like this [new grocery store] can have a transformative impact on people who can least afford to get themselves to healthy, fresh food.”
The American Nutrition Association reports that food deserts are generally in impoverished areas and are viewed as a national crisis. The closest grocery store to the Jonathan Street neighborhood is on the opposite side of Hagerstown, over a mile and a half away by vehicle, and not an option for many residents who do not drive.
David Shuster, president and CEO of Horizon Goodwill Industries, in the 14,000-square-foot space that will become a grocery store in the Jonathan Street neighborhood.
David Shuster, president and CEO of Horizon Goodwill Industries, the opportunity to help improve the lives of Hagerstown residents through improving food access originated in a conversation between Horizon Goodwill, the Community Action Council, and Meritus Health in early 2020.
“We did not map the full historical timeline in our research for this project, but the low food access conditions have existed for at least the past decade, and we are advised by residents that it may be as much as 20 years,” Shuster says. “Access to reasonably priced, fresh, and healthy food options is one of the many social determinants of health and human thriving. The particular community where this project is located has been historically challenged by a unique crosswalk of systemic factors including restrictive zoning, access to transportation, and overall disinvestment.”
Recently, Day joined officials from Horizon Goodwill Industries, the University System of Maryland-Hagerstown (USMH), and the City of Hagerstown to celebrate $450,000 in State Revitalization Program funding for the development of Horizon Goodwill Industries’ Horizon Market. Finally there is a vision to put an end to the food desert in this area.
“By eliminating a food desert in Hagerstown’s Jonathan Street neighborhood, Horizon Market is directly responding to the needs of its community in a tangible and impactful way,” Day says. “We’re proud to support the partnership of Horizon Goodwill Industries and the University System of Maryland and their commitment to bettering the lives of Hagerstown residents through this critical work.”
Dr. Jacob Ashby, USMH executive director, said the support of this grant funding will help USMH continue to meet the dual mission, which focuses on providing quality education to students in the region while also working to enhance downtown Hagerstown.
“We are always grateful for opportunities to work together to make positive changes in our region,” Ashby says. “Access to fresh, nutritious food is essential for a thriving community, and this grocery store will serve as a cornerstone for improving the quality of life in downtown Hagerstown. By working together, we’re not just addressing food insecurity, we’re building a brighter, healthier future for our residents. The grocery store will serve as an essential hub, not only providing access to food but also equipping individuals with valuable job skills and opportunities that can positively impact their lives.”
Michelle Walls, USMH outreach coordinator, said USMH is a regional higher education center offering upper division undergraduate and graduate academic programs of the universities within the University System of Maryland at its state-of-the-art facility in downtown Hagerstown.
“USMH is committed to serving the educational and workforce needs of Western Maryland,” Walls says. “We work collaboratively to develop innovative partnerships with local community colleges, businesses, and civic leaders to ensure a seamless and quality learning experience for our students.”
While food insecurity is the driving force behind the development of a new Horizon Market, the store will also offer a variety of other opportunities for its patrons.
“We’ll be more than a grocery store downtown for Hagerstown,” Shuster says. “This is really envisioned to be a community asset, a partnership with residents here.”
He adds that Horizon Goodwill Industries owns the store under a different brand concept (Horizon Market).
“In addition to our focus on providing more affordable, healthier food options, we will also utilize the store as a grocery retail employment training platform (as we do with our thrift store locations) to help individuals gain valuable work experience that they can hopefully use to further their careers and social mobility,” Shuster says.
Shuster realizes the development of the new Horizon Market is a huge undertaking.
“While operating a grocery store is a new initiative for us, it aligns with our broader vision of empowered individuals and sustainable communities while supporting the community and economic development of the City of Hagerstown,” he says.