CHARM Hub sprouts in ‘food desert’

A new grocery store, the CHARM Hub, has opened in Winnipeg’s Elmwood neighborhood to provide affordable food options for community members. The CHalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corp. opened the store at 301 Ottawa Ave., offering canned goods, dry goods, dairy, frozen foods and a limited selection of fresh produce. Executive director Leilani Esteban-Villarba described Elmwood as "a food desert" and emphasized that the nearest grocery store is over a kilometre away, making it difficult for residents, especially those with mobility challenges or older adults, to access essential groceries.

The store’s opening is part of the renewal corporation’s BAG ("Better access to groceries") program, which offers low-cost fruits and vegetables every Tuesday, and BAG Plus, which provides access to pantry items alongside vegetables. The CHARM Hub, which opened on October 6, is located in a two-storey building purchased for $500,000 and operates on a low-cost model, achieving savings by purchasing items in bulk at discount prices and selling them at the price paid.

Michael Onwuka, store manager, stated that the CHARM Hub is open to everyone and aims to provide groceries at low costs for residents in the area. The store is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The CHARM Hub has received positive feedback from the community, and the renewal corporation is open to further recommendations for improving the facility.