New Grocery Store in Fairfield Shuts Down Just 12 Months After Grand Opening

The Birmingham Times reports that Carver Jones Market in Fairfield, Alabama, the sole grocery store in the city and the first to open in almost a decade, is set to close its doors. James Harris, the owner, expressed gratitude for the support from Fairfield residents in a statement to WBRC News, while lamenting that circumstances did not pan out as hoped. Established on July 31, 2024, the minority-owned store aimed to provide the community and surrounding areas with accessible, affordable fresh produce and essential goods.Senior Pastor Alton Hardy of Urban Hope Community Church, which owns the property, noted that the community raised approximately $3.5 million to convert the building into a grocery store to combat local food scarcity. Despite its noble intentions, the store faced financial setbacks, missing crucial benchmarks. Pastor Hardy assured that although the grocery store will continue under new leadership, it will also receive a new name. He expressed unwavering faith in the store's future success.