An innovative company created to offer “fresh produce, meal solutions, and grocery staples” in “urban areas” is coming to First Hill to open a 2,000 square-foot market at 9th and James.

Stockbox announced Tuesday that its First Hill Grocery will open later this summer near Harborview.

The First Hill neighborhood has been without a major grocery store since the sudden closure of M Street Grocery in January 2011.

Stockbox’s first store in the Seattle area opened in South Park in summer 2012. By November, it had already announced a slate of changes based on buying behavior and customer requests. The company continues to be involved with civic issues related to the availability of nutritious, affordable food in lower income and urban areas of the city.

The full announcement on the new First Hill store is below.

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Seattle entrepreneurs, Carrie Ferrence and Jacqueline Gjurgevich, are preparing to open the second Stockbox Neighborhood Grocery this summer, in the First Hill neighborhood of Seattle.  Stockbox is working to build a network of community-based grocery stores to increase access to fresh, affordable and good food choices within urban areas.  This second store will be located near Harborview Hospital in a retail property at the corner of 9^th and James and follows their prototype store in 2011 and first store in South Park in 2012.  The launch also follows a successful raise of $550,000 at the beginning of 2013, which took their total funds raised to $850,000.

“We are excited to open our second store in the First Hill neighborhood because of the strong market potential and social need. The neighborhood is one of the most dense and walk-dependent communities in the city and hasn’t had a grocery store since M Street Grocery closed in 2011. The community has been actively asking for a local resource for good food and has been supportive of our outreach and engagement efforts. Our work continues to demonstrate the incredible interest from neighbors to bring good food back into the community” said Carrie Ferrence, CEO and co-founder of Stockbox.

This new store location is an extension of the work that Stockbox has already done to increase access to good food inside urban communities, which began with a prototype store in the Delridge community in Fall 2011 and the launch of the company’s first store in Seattle’s South Park neighborhood last summer. The First Hill store will have an expanded footprint and will boast a larger selection of fresh foods and meal solutions – at an accessible price.

“Most families buy the same five to ten items each week, so they only need to go to a big grocery store once or twice a month,” said Jacqueline Gjurgevich, co-founder of Stockbox.  “Stockbox focuses on the fresh foods customers buy most often and tailors the inventory selection and store experience to represent the face and the need of each community.”

About Stockbox

Stockbox’s mission is to invest in communities, where good food and relationships can thrive. With plans to open a network of stores across the city, and eventually beyond, Stockbox stores are designed to offer a welcoming and delightful experience.  Stockbox also partners with non-profits, like The Hope Heart Institute and Sea Mar, to provide educational materials and activities to promote the benefits of good food. Stockbox’s efforts to become the new neighborhood grocery have gained national and international attention, including coverage in the New York Times and Fast Company, and recognition by the White House. The Stockbox founders also have spoken at national conferences, on the topics of food access, community development, and creativity in small business financing.

Stockbox will post regular updates on the First Hill store’s development at www.stockboxgrocers.com  In addition, they will be reaching out to neighbors to glean additional insight on how to design inventory selection at the First Hill store and working with strategic partners to launch integrated programs and raise additional funds through investment and donations.