The community of Binghampton is gearing up for change. The Binghampton Development Corporation and its project partners held a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday afternoon at the corner of Sam Cooper and Tillman, where a Save-A-Lot grocery and Dollar Tree store will be built.
Construction was supposed to start last summer but was delayed. Binghampton residents say the much-needed grocery store is a gateway to greater things in their community.
Binghampton has never had a grocery store or any kind of shopping center like the one that will be built. Residents call the Binghampton Gateway Center an answer to their prayers.
“I’ve seen some progress you know and that’s good,” says Audrey Douglas.
With hard hats on and shovels in hand, dozens of city leaders and community members broke ground to officially start construction on the Binghampton Gateway Center.
“The message isn’t that this will bring hope. The message is that hope is already here,” says Robert Montague with the BDC.
33,000 square feet of retail space will include Dollar Tree and Save A Lot grocery store.
“The lack of availability to groceries with good food at affordable prices is a challenge in many parts of our city,” says Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland.
Residents say it’s been a challenge in Binghampton for decades.
“They promised us that we would one day have something like this in the Binghampton area and I lived long enough to see that this is really happening,” says Anne McVay.
27% of Binghampton residents don’t have a car, so many are forced to pay for a ride to the nearest grocery store, or walk to a corner quick mart to buy overpriced food and necessities.
“A grocery store where you can buy all of your toiletries and your good food and stuff like that and it’s within the range that we can afford to buy,” says McVay. “It’s been a long time for this to come.”
“For the elderly people especially,” says Douglas.
The Binghampton Gateway Center will create jobs and a new found hope for people who live, work, and want to shop here.
Save A Lot and Dollar Tree are both expected to open before the end of year.
