Free Atlanta Grocery Store May Close Over Electric Bill

ATLANTA — The Grocery Spot, a free grocery store on Atlanta’s West Side, recently suspended operations due to a huge electric bill.

Organizers said if they couldn’t pay the bill, they wouldn’t be able to stay open.

The Grocery Spot is a “community funded and supported” free grocery store that addresses food insecurity in the Grove Park and Center Hill neighborhoods of Atlanta. In a social media post Friday, the nonprofit announced it would temporarily close its doors until it can afford to pay its electric bill.

The local store moved to its current location along Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway to serve an area with limited access to fresh, affordable groceries. The need for newer freezers to meet demand has led to a significant increase in their electricity bill, which recently topped $2,600. The staff relies entirely on donations of food and money to operate, and without sufficient funds the store is at risk of closing.

Volunteer coordinator Darius Tigner said the store serves more than 1,000 people each week, a number that continues to rise as food prices rise.

The Grocery Spot offers everything from fresh produce to Pedialyte, free to the public. Tigner expressed hope that the store can remain open to provide essential nutrition to those who need it most.

“So many people are facing so many things, and food insecurity is one of the biggest issues we face,” Tigner told 11Alive. “The most important thing is that people can come, families can come and get the food they need to prepare a hot meal, because food is love.”

The future of The Grocery Spot now depends on community support to cover unforeseen costs and keep its doors open.

More information about donating to The Grocery Spot can be found here.