"Someone should do something!"

In February of this year, the Dillon's grocery store in central Topeka closed it's doors for good. For many in the neighborhood, this meant the end of their access to the basic food and groceries we expect to have at our fingertips, especially for those without transportation. The problem with food deserts is not only a major issue in this neighborhood, but across major parts of the city and the country at large. The community has hoped for some sort of a solution, but to date, no solutions have been attempted.

Until now.

We have located a small but decently sized shopping plaza caddycorner to the old Dillon's building. The owner is a man who has spent his life buying and maintaining properties in Topeka and wants to see his properties passed on the the next generation of Topekans who share his passion for this city, and he has offered a very reasonable price on the building. An architect with a passion for food desert work has stepped forward to offer his services at an affordable price to redesign the space for use as a small community grocery and cooking class space. A contractor and construction crew have been located. And miracles have happened. I am setting the goal at $65,000, the price for the building. We know that's a pipe dream, but we're working on other sources of funding, too. Once we have the building, work on the remodel can begin and we will have several months to pursue the USDA food desert grants to buy the shelves, freezers, Square register system, etc. James is willing to drain his retirement funds to buy materials and pay workers if necessary, but we need the building first. Anything over that amount would help cover the processing fee, pay our architect and builders, etc.

Our owner and founder James Frager had the privilege this week to speak with Alan Bearman, the dean of libraries at Washburn University, who shares our passion for wanting to find a solution to this food desert at the doorstep of our university campus. Among the various forms of assistance he offered were assistance in applying for USDA grants and working with the Washburn Technical School to make a project of preparing the building by allowing students to work on the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC.  Alan and Washburn represent just a very significant portion of a massive sea of people who have already expressed their willingness to help with this desparetely project however possible. 

We have specific plans in place for our supply chain, for our management, for our hiring practices, and for many other aspects of our business, but we know challenges will arise. We are hopeful that by inviting you to contribute at one of our award levels, we can get our community to take a vested interest in our development and progress. We want to stay accountable to the Topeka community every step of the way and make sure we are doing our best to serve the people in this city.

These are a few of the highlights of what is going to make Land of Oz Market a unique asset in our community. We might not be able to do everything we want on day one, but we're going to try to do these things as soon as possible. Here are some of the things we are going to do:

-A cooking classroom to offer cooking classes to our neighbors who have never considered taking a cooking class, focusing on creating good food at home using affordable ingredients. A number of *very* prominent Topeka area chefs have already stepped forward offering their help in teaching these classes.

-A pre-prepped gourmet cooking to go service. We want to package all the ingredients necessary to create a gourmet meal at home along with the recipes created by one of our Topeka-area chefs, available for pickup in store as compared to existing servives that send all ingredients by mail.

-A living wage and health insurance for our employees, because we want our employees to feel valued, and we want the people handling our food to be healthy.

-A canned/dry goods exchange and donation-based simple foods (soup, bread, etc) available onsite to help combat hunger and shoplifting. We don't believe people steal because they are bad people. We believe people steal when they are forced to by hunger and poverty. By having some free food available in the store at all times, those without means can know we still welcome them into our building with their dignity. When they have the means, we look forward to serving them with our products for sale. We believe treating people with respect is the best to ask to be treated with respect.

-Donation-based before school breakfast. We want to live in a city where every child has had the chance to get the maximum possible benefit from their education, and we don't believe that's possible if children go to school hungry. We want to offer some sort of a quick and simple breakfast neighborhood children (and anyone else!) can come in and eat before they start their day, so that every mind in the area can blossom to its fullest potential.

-(hopefully, if licensing allows) Use of the cooking classroom as a pop-up restaurant space so potential restauneurs can try out their ideas and tweak them before taking the plunge and getting their own space, helping spur small business development in the city of Topeka.

-A mix of products sources from traditional supply systems, as these are most economical, and all possible available local products and produce to help support the farmers and families of Northeast Kansas.

-Much, much, much more.

We're not just looking to open a grocery store. We had one, and it closed. We want to do business different and given Topekans a choice to vote with their dollars for the kinds of businesses in their community. We want to be a role model business, and expand this concept to other food deserts across the city, and maybe the state and nation (can't hurt to dream big!) Know that this is not a non-profit, as our founder has left his job to dedicate his time to this venture, and believes that if we do what is right to take care of our employees, our customers, and our community, then they will take care of us. If we want something to happen in our community, this is our chance. It's time to put our money where our mouths are.

We look forward to serving you mid-2017, and thank you for your support from the bottom of our hearts (and stomachs.)