What the Corner Store Means
Corner Stores as Neighborhood Anchors
Call them corner stores, bodegas, or minimarts—these spaces are neighborhood lifelines. They’re where you can grab milk for tomorrow’s cereal, a snack for the walk home, or that one thing you forgot during the big grocery run. They’re open late, they know your name, and they often have a personality all their own. They’re filled with familiar faces, community stories, and the rhythm of daily life.
But for many neighborhoods, the corner store isn’t just about convenience—it’s the primary place people shop for food. When the nearest supermarket is miles away, or when getting there requires hours of public transit, the local corner store becomes the backbone of food access.
Why It Matters
Our corner store partnerships honor the way people already live and shop. Instead of asking neighbors to travel far for fresh food, we bring affordable fruits and vegetables into the stores they already trust—strengthening local businesses and keeping dollars in the neighborhood.
When you see a Kanbe’s Markets cooler inside a corner store, it means more than fresh food. It means neighbors have real choice, local owners are thriving, and together, we’re building a food system that works for everyone.
From 12 stores to 100 stores
Click to explore our journey
-
In 2019, Kanbe’s Markets partnered with 12 Corner Stores, redirecting 104,000 pounds of fresh produce and generating $60,657 in gross sales. Even in its early days, the model worked—$18,000+ was reinvested by store owners into their own neighborhoods.
-
By 2021, Kanbe’s had grown to 41 Corner Store Partners and was redirecting 218,000 pounds of fresh produce—double 2019’s impact. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, sales surged to $123,000, proving the resilience of this community led food access system.
-
The network expanded from 43 to 75 Corner Store Partners in just two years. In 2024 alone, Kanbe’s Markets redirected over 1 million pounds of fresh produce and generated $143,000 in sales.
-
Today, Kanbe’s celebrates a major milestone: 100 Corner Store Partners, each a vital hub for affordable produce and local economic opportunity. And we’re not stopping here. This year, Kanbe’s is expanding our impact into new neighborhoods across the city—and for the first time, across state lines into Kansas.
Hear directly from the store partners who’ve powered our journey and made fresh food access possible in every neighborhood.
This basket is empty. You can fill it.
$50 a Month Creates a New Access Point—And Keeps It Full
Your monthly gift can place a 3-tier produce stand in a neighborhood store and keep it stocked with fresh, affordable fruits and vegetables—apples, onions, potatoes, and more—for an entire year.
Take a stand and create a space where fresh, affordable food is available right where neighbors already shop. Partner with us to keep corner stores stocked with nutritious produce for the entire community.