Grambling's first grocery store in 35 years opens

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GRAMBLING, La. (KNOE) - The city of Grambling is getting its first grocery store in over 35 years.

Legends Market is a one-stop-shop with a bakery, pharmacy, and a deli that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The city has been named a “food desert” by the USDA, meaning people there didn't have access to quality, affordable fresh food. Now, it's all down the street.

They say the hassle of driving 30 minutes round-trip to other cities for groceries puts wear and tear on their cars and uses a lot of gas.

People there say it's been a missing piece in this community, and it’s more than a place for buying groceries.

"I think it will bring a sense of community, a place where you can meet your friends and family,” Earl Griffin says. “So it's going to be an awesome place to come and meet, greet and say hello and shop and just have a good time."

Mayor Edward Jones says they’ve been working on this grocery store since 2011. “If I could use the analogy, it's like building a house without a kitchen. We have a city without a supermarket. We have a city without so many things. So we're trying to fill in those missing pieces," he says.

The city says this grocery store will also help keep the money in Grambling, bringing in more sales tax and adding to the general fund.

Right now, the store does not accept food stamps. A sign on the door says it will in the near future.