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UID:Indybay-18826163
SEQUENCE:18975011
CREATED:20190911T174500Z
DESCRIPTION:BACKGROUND:\nIn 2015, Mid City Market was one of five stores in the 
 Tenderloin to undergo a healthy retail transformation through San 
 Francisco’s new HealthyRetailSF Program. Like most stores in the 
 Tenderloin at the time, Mid City Market had a storefront covered with 
 alcohol and tobacco advertisements and aisles and counters where unhealthy 
 food, beverage and tobacco choices edged out the healthy options.\n 
 \nHistorically the Tenderloin has been a neighborhood with limited options 
 for healthy food. Many Tenderloin residents are seniors and people living 
 with disabilities, with no supermarket, healthy food options are difficult 
 to obtain. With energized store owners like Eyad (Eddie) and Ehab Shqair, 
 and the support of the Tenderloin Healthy Corner Store Coalition (TLHCSC), 
 the HealthyRetailSF Program, the Tenderloin Community, and several other 
 community-based organizations, Mid City Market transformed into a community 
 market that now provides its Tenderloin neighbors with a healthy balance of 
 merchandise that includes lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and healthy 
 snacks and beverages. And its storefront, once covered with alcohol and 
 tobacco advertising is now filled with colorful posters of fruits and 
 vegetables.\n \nThe transformation has been a financial success as well – 
 overall sales of Mid City Market have increased since 2015; and the sales 
 of produce have increased by 48%.  In addition to the increase in revenue, 
 Mid City Market saw an increase in its stature within the community; 
 through its mentorship of new stores, Mid City Market has become a role 
 model for store owners entering the Program and undergoing HealthyRetailSF 
 transformations.\n \nMid City Market will mark its “graduation” from 
 the HealthyRetailSF program with a community celebration hosted by the 
 TLHCSC and resident Food Justice Leaders featuring healthy food and recipe 
 samples, games, prizes and a raffle. This is an opportunity for the 
 Shaqairs and the community to come together to celebrate the success of 
 bringing healthy foods and beverages into a neighborhood that was once 
 severely lacking healthy options.\n \nThe Shqairs will be on hand to 
 celebrate and will receive a certificate of recognition for their 
 accomplishments at 4:45 pm.  Their transformation and successes would not 
 have been made possible without these additional organizations that have 
 collaborated with Mid City Market and other Tenderloin stores: Feeling Good 
 Project; EatSF Vouchers 4 Veggies Program; and Yerba Buena Center of the 
 Arts.\n \n \nAbout HealthyRetailSF\nLaunched in 2013, out of a partnership 
 between San Francisco’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development 
 (OEWD) and Department of Public Health (SFDPH), HealthyRetailSF is an 
 incentive-based, voluntary program for merchants to shift business models 
 and make the changes they need to remain competitive, but to also provide 
 healthier food alternatives in their communities. The HealthyRetailSF 
 Program was established by legislation to promote healthy eating and make 
 fresh produce and healthy products available to existing residents.  It 
 combines a community engagement approach along with store redesign and 
 technical assistance and brings together facets of business, government, 
 and community to make transformations a reality.\n \nHealthyRetailSF and 
 Tenderloin Healthy Corner Store Coalition are supported by Tenderloin 
 Neighborhood Development Corporation, Sugary Drinks Distributor Tax 
 funding, OEWD Invest In Neighborhoods, and the San Francisco Tobacco-Free 
 Project. For more information about the Tenderloin Healthy Corner Stores 
 Coalition, visit facebook.com/healthyTL and follow @tlhealthycornerstore on 
 Instagram.  For more information about HealthyRetailSF, visit: 
 www.healthyretailsf.org.\n 
 https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2019/09/11/18826163.php
SUMMARY:Graduation Ceremony and Community Celebration for Mid City Market
LOCATION:Mid City Market, 868 Geary Street, San Francisco, CA 
URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2019/09/11/18826163.php
DTSTART:20190912T230000Z
DTEND:20190913T003000Z
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