Coxwell-Gerrard community loses key spot for groceries
Residents who depend on No Frills for affordable food surprised by sudden closing
A No Frills grocery store at Coxwell Ave. and Gerrard St. has abruptly closed, leaving its residents wondering how they’re going to do their grocery shopping in an area that’s referred to as a food desert.
The Rocca’s No Frills closed suddenly on Wednesday. The signature yellow No Frills sign had been taken down, and the facade painted over. At the front entrance, a sign notified people that emergency renovations had to be completed, and that a shuttle service would run to another No Frills on Carlaw Ave. for anyone who needed it.
The area has few other large, affordable grocery stores, a situation that’s often referred to as a “food desert.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines a food desert, or “low-access community,” as an area where at least a third of the population live more than 1.6 kilometres from a supermarket.
Loblaws, which owns the No Frills brand, closed the store because of “unavoidable” repairs, said Kevin Groh, vice-president, corporate affairs and communication for Loblaws.
“We made the proactive decision to close Rocca’s No Frills because we’re unwilling to compromise on customer safety or shopping experience. We did not want to close, but this is a very old building,” Groh said in the statement.
On Thursday afternoon, area residents were seen walking up to the doors of the store, expecting to do their groceries, only to find it closed. Many expressed their surprise at the closure, saying they hadn’t gotten any advance notice.
Barbara Ambroise, who has lived in the neighbourhood near the store for over 36 years, and shops at the store almost daily, was surprised to see it closed. “What are we doing for supper? We were going to get some chicken. . . . We rely on (the store), and it’s always there, always open,” Ambroise said.
Ambroise and other area residents who shopped at the store said they had no warning of the closure. Jim Murray, who got off his bike in front of the store, only to do a double-take when he realized it was closed, said he’s friendly with the cashiers, and hadn’t received a heads-up from them the day before.
The area has few options for affordable groceries, residents said. Though there’s another No Frills on Carlaw, it’s a 10 minute drive away and not accessible for some residents who walked to the old store.
Kim Hull shops at the No Frills about once a week. Its location and prices were what keep her coming back. Hull said she can afford to buy her groceries elsewhere, but that’s not true for everyone in the area.