Real world Why local shops matter
A corner store lets people buy milk, bread and fruit without driving. For older people, families without a car and busy parents, being able to walk to a shop makes daily life much easier.
Some neighborhoods have no supermarket nearby. The US Department of Agriculture maps "low-access" areas, where many people live far from a supermarket, often called food deserts. If the only nearby shop sells mostly snacks, it is harder to eat well.
Real world How towns help
- Allowing small shops in residential areas instead of banning them through zoning.
- Programs that help corner stores stock fresh fruit and vegetables.
- Farmers' markets and community gardens.
- Safe footpaths and bus routes to larger food shops.
Real world A neighborhood hub
Corner shops are often family-run businesses that know their customers by name. They can be places to pick up news, leave a parcel or ask for help, part of what makes a neighborhood feel like a community.
Art In this artwork
This illustration shows a brick corner shop with green and white striped awnings.
Look closer
- Find the shop awnings and windows.
- How might customers arrive: on foot, by bike or by car?
Think about it
- What can you reach on foot from home in ten minutes?
- Why might a small shop be important even if there is a big supermarket further away?
- How could a town help people get healthy food?
Key words
- Food desert
- An area where it is hard to buy fresh, affordable food.
- Zoning
- Rules about what can be built where.
- Local business
- A business owned by people in the community.
Sources
The facts on this page are based on these sources:
- US Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, "Food Access Research Atlas"
- Jane Jacobs, "The Death and Life of Great American Cities" (1961)
