Local Group Fights Against Area Food Desert

The phrase “Food Desert” refers to the area of Galesburg that no longer has a grocery store within walking distance for it’s residents.

Part of the area wasn’t considered a desert until November 2013, when Aldi decided to close it’s store on the corner of Henderson and Main streets.

The Group, Galesburg Organizing Project, has taken on the effort to restore a grocery store to that area to accommodate nearby residents, specifically from Moon Towers and Mary Allen West.

Volunteer Jerry Ryberg is leading the project and tells Galesburg’s Evening News on WGIL that when he did some digging, he found that the old Aldi location can’t be sold to another grocery chain.

“I discovered that contrary to what people had heard, Aldi had a deed stipulation that said no store could be built on the old site for two to three years,” says Ryberg. “I called up a man named Mike Phillips through the leasing company that Aldi hired, and he said it’s forever. So this makes the situation even more cold hearted on Aldi’s part.”

Ryberg says he has been encouraging residents to contact Aldi Customer Service about the issue and has made videos interviewing residents on the matter, which are up on Youtube.

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