Closure of Grocery Store in Food Desert Area of Dallas
A grocery store in a food desert area of Dallas has closed, a blow for the region that leaves dwindling options for local food shoppers.
Cash Saver — near the corner of Hampton Road and Singleton Boulevard — has “permanently closed,” though the pharmacy was still available recently, according to signage.
The shuttering in West Dallas comes after the store opened little more than five years ago. Yet the move was “simply a company business decision,” according to Bill Davidson, general manager, in an email responding to questions.
“This location has always been a very difficult one to achieve the sales and profitability needed to avoid unsustainable losses,” Davidson said. Others “have tried unsuccessfully to operate or continue to operate this location.”
Background and Context
The shuttering came after the landlord “worked strongly with us” to provide a reduced rent to assist, Davidson said. In addition, there were earlier efforts to get help from the city with a grant.
Amid the population, retail and economic growth of the broader North Texas region, some parts of the region have faced uneven grocery options, forcing locals to travel to other areas with more choices. That includes Dallas’ Oak Cliff, where there have been efforts to improve access to healthy food. With the loss of the store on Singleton, West Dallas now has lost a major hub for fresh produce and other food essentials.
“The decision to close this store was certainly a difficult one for us,” Davidson said. “It was a pleasure to serve the very nice and appreciative customers. We are a very small company and the many various problems, expenses and lack of needed sales just made the decision to close this location unavoidable.”
Impact on the Community
The grocery store had covered more than 36,000 square feet and opened about five years ago after earlier housing a Fiesta Mart. For local shoppers, one option is Jerry’s Super Market, which is located less than one mile to the east from the site on Singleton, along with some retail spaces that include CVS.
In far north Oak Cliff, which borders West Dallas, a Sprouts Farmers Market opened earlier this year. It’s about a mile from the Cash Saver.
The now former grocery site is part of a larger shopping center that features various retailers, including Boost Mobile, Family Dollar and Pizza Hut. It also sits across the street from a McDonald’s and a business that offers check cashing and money orders.
Expert Insights
“Grocery stores in underserved neighborhoods serve as lifelines,” said Dohyeong Kim, professor at the University of Texas at Dallas, in an email. “In places like West Dallas, where the Food Saver helped fill a long-standing gap, a store provides far more than a place to shop. It anchors the local economy, creates stable employment, and gives residents consistent access to nutritious food at reasonable prices.”
That role affects rates of chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and hypertension, that disproportionately impact low-income communities, Kim said.
“The importance of a full-service grocery store becomes even clearer when one disappears,” Kim said. “Without it, the burden of finding healthy food shifts entirely to residents, many of whom already face transportation challenges.”
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The store’s site isn’t far from Trinity Groves on the region’s eastern side, where there’s some relatively new housing and modern restaurant choices.
Cash Saver has other locations locally, including sites that are in the southern area of Dallas.
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Conclusion
The closure of the Cash Saver grocery store in West Dallas is a significant blow to the community, leaving residents with limited options for accessing fresh produce and other essential food items. The store’s closure highlights the ongoing challenges faced by low-income communities in accessing healthy food and the importance of grocery stores in anchoring local economies.
FAQs
Q: What happened to the Cash Saver grocery store in West Dallas?
A: The store has permanently closed due to unsustainable losses and difficulties in achieving sales and profitability.
Q: What other grocery options are available to residents in the area?
A: Residents can shop at Jerry’s Super Market, which is located less than one mile to the east from the site on Singleton, or at the Sprouts Farmers Market in far north Oak Cliff.
Q: How will the closure of the store impact the community?
A: The closure will limit access to fresh produce and other essential food items, exacerbating existing health disparities and transportation challenges faced by low-income communities.
