INDIAN HEAD, Md. — Imagine having to drive more than seven miles just to buy fruit and vegetables.
That was the reality for residents in Indian Head in Charles County, Maryland for 25 years. Rosa Ammons, a resident of 32 years, remembered when Super Food closed in 1999.
“It was devastating,” Ammons told WUSA9. “We started seeing a lot of stuff closing here. It was hard.”
The town of 4,100 people is in the midst of revitalization efforts which includes opening a grocery store. The process to build one is a painstakingly tedious process but in October, the goal became a reality when Oasis Fresh Foods Market opened along Indian Head Highway.
Town manager Ryan Hicks said it ended the town’s designation of being a food desert.
“Indian Head is picking back up,” Hicks said. “People can see that things are happening in Indian Head because for the longest time, people were saying it's dying off.”
Owners Marilyn and Mark Steele saw the need for easy access to fresh food. The couple already owns a coffee shop in town but even if they’re not residents, they embarked on a tough five-year journey to make their dream a reality.
The town is also home to a Naval facility with no commissary. Marilyn Steele, a veteran, felt compelled to act.
“I served 20 years in the military,” Steele told WUSA9. “I'm a retired lieutenant colonel and the base had no commissary. I cannot know that there are young soldiers, sailors, wives and children who have to travel 15 miles round trip to get an apple. That can be a lot for seniors and families.”
“When you have the ability to do something right and you can, you should,” she added. “Once you make a commitment in your life that you're going to serve and you believe in that, your word is your bond, and you die trying.”
In reality, it was tougher to open a grocery store than she realized. It wasn’t possible without the help of town officials who were dedicated to the mission. They also had guidance from an advisory council and additional help from donors.
The owners are also prioritizing sourcing from local vendors. For example, items from small mom-and-pop shops are featured as soon as you walk through the doors.
“We were at the right time with the right type of people because this takes so much,” Steele said. “This was a heavy, heavy lift.”
The grocery store is part of a mix-used development which includes seven apartment units upstairs. The apartments will also help fund the operations of the store. The Steeles are planning to open an ice cream store next door and a community garden next year.