In Orlando, a free grocery store opens in a Black neighborhood with no supermarket

Parramore, Orlando's oldest Black neighborhood in Florida, now has a grocery store. Parramore Market, a small store where the groceries are free, opened in late October 2026. It is run by the Desire Foundation, a nonprofit founded by Jennifer Desir Hilaire, who describes herself on Facebook as a young Haitian immigrant.

Choosing your own groceries

The market replaces the food box distribution the nonprofit ran until now. Instead of receiving a pre-packed box, residents walk the aisles and pick their own items: fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, dairy, bread and household essentials, according to Orlando Weekly.

"Me making the decision on what goes in a box of food for you is really taking away your dignity," Jennifer Hilaire told News 6 (WKMG). To her, food is a right, not charity.

How it works

The store is open to all Central Florida residents. Shoppers register online or in person for a free card, which allows two visits a month.

Parramore Market is at 536 N. Westmoreland Drive. It is open Wednesdays (seniors only) and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. On site, a small clinic checks vital signs, a computer lab helps with résumés, and volunteers help with food stamps, Medicare and Medicaid.

A food desert

The closest supermarket to Parramore is about three miles away, according to News 6. The neighborhood has long been considered a food desert.

Founded in 2020, the Desire Foundation started with meal distributions. Its Project 814 program has already given out hundreds of thousands of pounds of food.

Built with the community

The opening followed a year of work. Several partners took part, including the City of Orlando, the Central Florida Foundation, the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation and the utility OUC. The City of Orlando listed the nonprofit among 64 organizations sharing $4 million in grants.

The project went ahead despite a setback: Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed $170,000 in state funding that would have paid for groceries and a truck, according to Orlando Weekly. The nonprofit accepts donations and is looking for volunteers.