After hitting some initial obstacles, it is the home stretch to opening LNPK Grocery! The grocery is still waiting for SNAP certification. This has been the biggest hurdle in setting up the store because the store has committed to accessibility for all of Lincoln Park, including those who rely on SNAP benefits. In the meantime, check out our sidewalk sample giveaways at the store from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. on Tuesdays to get free fresh produce from the Eco3 Urban Farm. The store has also received the first couple of deliveries, meaning that as soon as the grocery is approved for SNAP benefits, it will be ready to open without further delay.
But as the finishing touches come together and opening day draws near, LNPK Grocery’s true significance for Duluth extends far beyond stocked shelves and a ribbon-cutting—it’s rooted in a mission to bring fresh, affordable food within walking distance of the Lincoln Park neighborhood it was built to serve.
In 1973, there were 69 small, corner-market-style grocery stores throughout Duluth. That number had plummeted to just 9 in 2013. Currently, there are no grocery stores that serve Lincoln Park outside of Goat Hill Market. Forty-one percent of Lincoln Park residents say they experience barriers when it comes to accessing food, twice the regional average. The lack of options in Lincoln Park leaves car-less residents to rely on gas stations or on public transportation to get their groceries. Many folks in the neighborhood may still remember when it was the norm to have a convenience store just down the street. LNPK Grocery is hoping to bring back that culture of ease and accessibility to Lincoln Park when it opens. Learn more about the history of food access from a past blog here.
If you plan on making the commute by car when we open later this summer, be sure to stay up to date on road closures as construction continues to affect the Craft District into 2027. Click here for up-to-date road closures and detours.