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Food desert gets bigger on Indy's northeast side as Walmart Neighborhood Market prepares to close

Posted at 9:31 AM, Jul 12, 2019
and last updated 2019-07-12 09:31:40-04

INDIANAPOLIS — An area that's already struggling with access to food on Indianapolis' northeast side is losing another grocery store on Friday.

The Walmart Neighborhood Market off of North Franklin Road near 38th Street was one of the last full-service grocery stores in the area. The store is set to close for the final time at the end of business on Friday, July 12.

The store has been open in the area since 2004, but a Walmart spokesperson said poor performance has led to the company's decision to shutter its doors.

READ | Walmart closing on Indy's northeast side

Two Kroger stores and two Marsh stores in the area have already closed in the past couple of years and the Walmart grocery chain was one of the last options available within walking distance for many people living in the area.

Walmart's closing leaves only two stores within a mile of the area, a Menards and Save-A-Lot. That may not seem very far, but even just a mile can be a challenge for many who have no transportation, especially the disabled and elderly living in the area.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett recently announced a proposal to partner with the ride-sharing company Lyft ot offer subsidized rides for people living in food deserts. They are also working on an app for people who live in those areas to help find the closest locations that sell food.