Students at Old Dominion University are surrounded by a myriad of resources, especially those for food. Numerous dining facilities are located throughout campus and the Monarch Pantry offers free food in a grocery store-style arrangement. This privilege is something that many residents in Norfolk are not granted, as there are several pockets of food deserts actively affecting the community.
In such an urban environment, access to clean, healthy, fresh food is not always manageable. For those who live or work in downtown Norfolk, the means of transportation to the nearest grocery or convenience store is not always convenient or time efficient.
With the closing of MacArthur Pharmacy in downtown Norfolk, recent ODU graduate, Brett Darlington and his partner, Bobby Wright, made efforts to preserve the historical space.
The pair first met at a Lunch and Learn event hosted on campus, where students were able to meet and hear from business professionals within the community. After exchanging information, Darlington found himself working with Wright on a number of projects throughout Norfolk.
Once word was out about the pharmacy’s discontinuation, Wright quickly approached Darlington about his interest in the space. Darlington and Wright saw “a lot of potential to put something in the building that provides a lot of value to the community.”
“When you look at the food that’s in the grocery stores now, [it is obvious] there is a massive need for higher end food. At the very least, organic food,” said Darlington. “That was the idea, we put in good food. People can choose to buy what they want. Maybe it’s candy, maybe it’s a soda, but they’re never not going to have the option of living downtown to eat fresh, healthy food.”
The two worked for weeks to turn the cornerstone in the area into another community-based staple: a farm-to-table style general store.
Downtown residents, work commuters and visitors passing by can now stop at 261 Granby Street to shop for all their essentials. MacArthur General store sells an array of products, spanding from hygiene essentials to toys to fresh food. MacArthur General is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Whether you are stopping by for a quick grab-and-go drink or ingredients for an elaborate dinner, the MacArthur General store will be able to fulfill your needs.
There are fridges full of premium meats, shelves stocked with classic snacks and even seasonal essentials such as gloves and hats. Rows of vitamins, utensils, hygiene products, cleaners and other necessities line the aisles. There is a table with fresh, locally grown produce including fruits, vegetables and exotic mushrooms. One shelf in particular showcases local-made products, including hot sauce, coffee and mugs.
One key implementation comes in the form of a QR code placed at the front of the store. When scanned, the code leads to a pop up on their website that asks “what would you like to see in the store?” Naturally, the most frequent bypassers are those in the area and those who have been going to the store their entire lives; the exact audience the store strives to serve.
“The community wanted fresh tomatoes, artisanal sourdoughs, tobacco, candy, chips, shampoo, oven cleaner, soda. So that’s what we put in the store. The store is from bottom up, an image of the desire of the community. We don’t source [a product] if somebody doesn’t ask for it,” said Darlington.
The accommodation to the community does not stop there, as the MacArthur General store will not only offer a singular product, but options of which type to buy as well. “There is no reason to gamble whether or not people are going to like the brand, the image, the item,” said Darlington.
When people submit a request on what they want the store to offer, they’re telling Darlington and Wright the necessities they seek in a downtown area. The MacArthur General Store responds to these requests by providing the products the consumers desire.
“Somebody asked for dry shampoo, so I got five different kinds of dry shampoo. They asked for shampoo, we got three different types of shampoo and conditioner. Somebody wanted an argan oil conditioner, so I got an argan oil conditioner,” explained Darlington.
The MacArthur General store is essentially about serving the community in a way that the community has asked to be served.
However, because the store is being filled based on consumer desires and the answers are not always quick, the store itself has been in the process of a soft opening. The first official soft open of the MacArthur general store was Oct. 10, 2024. Since then, the store has grown immensely.
As the stream of consumers steadily increases, more merchandise will come in stock, expanding the store each time. While the MacArthur General store is still in the process of its soft opening, the curtain is gradually being pushed back more and more, making the space another staple for the community yet again.
