Lincoln Park once held a plethora of neighborhood corner stores that gave residents the option to walk across the street or around the block in search of a quick snack or a missing ingredient for dinner. With eight small grocery stores within a three-block radius, this type of easy access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food used to be the norm for Lincoln Park residents. In 1973, Duluth had a strong representation of stores that carried groceries and meats, with 69 listings across the community. Yet, by 2013, the number had dwindled to a mere nine listings. Policy change and the rise of large chain grocery stores in the 1980s contributed to the decrease of small, independent neighborhood stores across the country.

Located at 2014 W 3rd St, the building now housing LNPK Grocery has a long history. Before serving the community as a grocery store, businesses like Carr’s Hobby Shop and Dream Party Sales, to name a few, were past tenants. The building also served as a police substation for a time. Most recently it served as the office for Ecolibrium3. The office was the birthplace for the idea that has become LNPK Grocery, continuing Eco3’s and the building’s ongoing evolution to meet the needs of the neighborhood.