West
Grocery Access Across the West
Across the western United States, access to fresh, affordable food can look very different from one community to another.
In some urban neighborhoods, residents may live close to restaurants and convenience stores but still lack a full-service grocery store nearby. In other communities, distance, transportation, rising operating costs, and store closures can make grocery shopping increasingly difficult.
We want to hear directly from residents throughout the West about where grocery options are disappearing, where access is limited, and which communities are asking for better choices.
Every Western Community Has a Story
A grocery store can play an important role in the everyday life of a neighborhood.
It gives families a place to buy fresh food, provides jobs, supports nearby businesses, and helps make a community more livable. When that store closes or moves away, the impact can be felt by thousands of residents.
For some people, losing a neighborhood grocery store means a longer drive. For others, it may mean depending on public transportation, paying for rides, or relying on stores with fewer fresh and affordable options.
Those experiences help tell the real story of food access across the West.
By hearing directly from residents, we can better understand where communities are being underserved and where new grocery opportunities may exist.
Help Us Put the West on the Map
Has your neighborhood lost a grocery store?
Do you have to travel outside your community to buy groceries?
Are residents relying on convenience stores, small markets, or other locations with limited fresh-food options?
Is there an empty grocery store or retail property in your community that could serve residents again?
We want to hear about it.
Your story can help us identify communities where there is a real need for better grocery access — and where residents are ready to support new options.