Rock Hill Explores Grocery Opportunities Amid Downtown Growth
Rock Hill, South Carolina — As downtown Rock Hill continues to grow with new residential developments, local business owners are starting to call for essential services like a grocery store to accommodate the increasing number of residents.
Brittany Kelly, co-owner of the Mercantile, a general store and gift shop in downtown, recently highlighted this need. “If you choose a downtown lifestyle, along with that comes walkability and accessibility, right?” she explained. Kelly has noticed that many of the residents in new apartments want more convenient options for buying everyday necessities.
Over the past decade, downtown Rock Hill has welcomed several apartment complexes, including The Anderson, 134 Main, and The Exchange. Additionally, the redevelopment project known as Knowledge Park has introduced residential units alongside retail and office spaces, further increasing the residential population.
The Need for Essentials
Despite these developments, city officials have not initiated plans for a grocery store in downtown Rock Hill. However, there have been discussions about establishing one in the nearby Southside community. Kelly believes that there is an opportunity for small, local businesses to fill the gap in grocery availability. She recently turned to the Rock Hill Eats Facebook group to gauge public opinion, asking residents, “On a scale of 1-10, how bad is a grocery store wanted downtown?”
While she expressed that the Mercantile has the space to potentially add a few grocery items, she was clear about the limitations. “It wouldn’t be a full-fledged grocery store and wouldn’t compete with larger retailers like Walmart,” she stated. Kelly acknowledged the challenges of securing a grocery store, especially when considering the median income of the community and the lack of space and parking in downtown.
Plans for Charcuterie
In another development that aims to increase accessibility to food, Chef Rob Masone, owner of Kounter in downtown, is preparing to open a new charcuterie nook adjacent to his restaurant. Masone plans to sell his restaurant’s signature sauces, marinades, rubs, and breads, expanding the shopping options for local residents.
“There’s an audience for it,” Masone remarked about the demand for grocery services. With more apartments opening in the area, he believes that Rock Hill residents are looking for convenient shopping solutions that fit into their busy lifestyles.
Chef Masone’s new nook represents a step toward providing local residents with greater access to quality food items without the need to drive out of downtown.
A Vision for the Future
While the conversation about a grocery store in downtown continues to evolve, local business owners like Kelly and Masone are hopeful that ideas will emerge that contribute to meeting the community’s needs. “It has been talked about forever, but it quickly fizzles out once we determine we don’t have the median income needed to support a good chain grocery store,” Kelly explained.
As Rock Hill continues to grow, the demand for essential services like grocery stores will likely increase. Business owners are encouraged to work together to explore opportunities that could enhance the community’s offerings. With the growing number of residents opting for a downtown lifestyle, the need for accessible grocery options is becoming more pressing.
The discussions surrounding grocery availability in Rock Hill reflect not just a need for convenience, but also a vision for a more vibrant downtown that can support the changing dynamics of its population.
