Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin today announced an incentive package to bring a Food Giant grocery store to an area he described as a “food desert.”
The Food Giant will be in the 2200 block of Bessemer Road in a 22,000-square-feet building that once housed a Winn-Dixie supermarket in Five Points West.
“Those citizens in that area deserve more healthy food options,” Woodfin said.
The city will offer $640,000 in incentives to Mitchell Retail Properties, plus a 10-year revenue sharing plan of 50 percent of sales taxes up to $1 million. Mitchell Retail said it expects to open the location by Dec. 1.
The incentive plan was approved and recommended by the City Council’s Budget and Finance Committee on Monday.
“The Five Points West area will now be able to enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables, like so many other areas that are not in our city limits, with a bakery, vegetables and vibrant meat department,” Woodfin said. “I know that sounds simple, but these are the simple things our citizens deserve.”
Woodfin said the city will continue to work to provide more healthy food options in other parts of the city.
“It doesn’t stop there,” Woodfin said. “We still have more work to do in other zip codes.”
