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About Town: The search for Binghampton grocery continues
 
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The new Binghampton sign stands in front of Gateway Shopping Center at the intersection of Sam Cooper Boulevard and Tillman Street. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
 

The new Binghampton sign stands in front of Gateway Shopping Center at the intersection of Sam Cooper Boulevard and Tillman Street. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Welcome to About Town, where we take a deeper dive into one neighborhood each week while also highlighting the latest news, developments and back stories from Memphis’ neighborhoods. This week’s focus: Binghampton

The Binghampton Development Corp.’s search for a new grocer is a reminder of the challenges certain neighborhoods face in retaining or finding food stores in the first place.

When Save A Lot opened at the Binghampton Gateway Center in 2018 that initially ended a decade-long search for a grocery store. More importantly, that meant Binghampton no longer could be classified as a food desert.

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EDGE grants exemption for anchor grocery store requirement

Three years later, Binghampton is firmly a food desert again and there are no immediate plans to find a replacement following Save A Lot’s departure in June 2020.

That doesn’t mean the BDC is letting the vacant space at the Gateway Center remain that way. It recently secured another tenant Junior Achievement of Memphis and Mid-South.

The BDC went before the EDGE board this week and successfully received an exemption removing the requirement from an existing PILOT (payment-in-lieu-of-taxes) that required a grocery as the Gateway Center’s anchor.

While the BDC is confident Junior Achievement will benefit Binghampton, that signaled another moment of disappointment in its goal to create quality food access for its residents.

It’s an unfortunate reality in many Memphis neighborhoods right now. What happens next is unclear, but the BDC plans to keep searching for another grocer. 

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If/when there are any updates, we’ll have them right here for you. 


More About Town:


Binghampton Development Corp. finds new tenant to replace Save A Lot

The BDC could not find another grocer to replace Save A Lot in the Binghampton Gateway Center and changed its approach to find a new tenant. 

Proposed nutrition store seeks to renovate Downtown property

Downtown Nutrition + Energy will be based on the business model of The Nutrition Hub, which is located in Germantown.

Wolf River Pipes and Drums lead a rememberance parade in Downtown Memphis on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Ziggy Mack/Special to The Daily Memphian)

Morris Park, an urban oasis, set for upgrades

The green space near Poplar Avenue and Manassas Street serves as a gateway between the Medical District and Victorian Village, and as a haven for people experiencing homelessness. 

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Events honor fallen heroes of 9/11

Ceremonies in Bartlett and at the Fire Museum of Memphis were among the events across Shelby County marking the 20th anniversary of 9/11.

A mosque grows in North Memphis

“This is where the poor are. This is where the Prophet would be. So this is where we need to be.” 

 
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