Baldwin finally gets a new grocery store after the only one in town closed last year

BALDWIN, Fla. — Neighbors in Baldwin, an area that's considered a food desert, had to drive 10-20 miles to get healthy and affordable food. The town changed it and started its own store: Baldwin Market.

Richard Braswell isn't just shopping at the Baldwin Market. He is one of the owners.

"I just think it's awesome. it's great for the community," he said.

In fact, everyone in Baldwin is an owner.

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"Town of Baldwin's store," said Mayor Sean Lynch.

The previous grocery store, IGA, closed its doors about a year ago. Baldwin, a population of 1,500 became a food desert – a community with limited access to affordable and healthy food.

"We had to drive to Macclenny or to Jacksonville, so it's been a struggle," said Braswell.

Mayor Sean Lynch said the town was really feeling the pinch, and so was he.

"Instead of shopping, we would just go to restaurants, because it was easier," he said.

The town already owned the land and building, so it decided to open its own store.

"It was either sell it all, see what happens or run our own store," said Lynch.

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All Lynch said they had to do was staff and stock and the council took $150,000 from a reserve fund.

The plan is to repay the money in monthly installments.

"It was like Time Square in here. It was nonstop. We had all the staff working," says mayor Lynch.

In Jacksonville, there are 40 food deserts -- a third of them are in the Northwest area.

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In May, the Jacksonville City Council passed a proposal to provide incentives for big chain grocers to open stores in those areas.

Neighbors in Baldwin are just grateful to have an option in their own community.

"Great to have a store here we can find what we need," said Braswell.

Cox Media Group