A historic promise left unfulfilled since the end of the Civil War is being reimagined on Chicago’s West Side, where entrepreneur Liz Abunaw has opened a community grocery store rooted in Black economic empowerment.
Her new business, Forty Acres Fresh Market, located in the Austin neighborhood, draws its name from the federal government’s abandoned pledge to provide formerly enslaved people with “forty acres and a mule” — a symbol of land ownership and economic independence that never materialized.
For Abunaw, the concept represents a modern interpretation of that vision.
“What would it look like if we actually got our 40 acres?” she said. “It looks like a thriving, Black woman-owned supermarket serving its community.”
A store with history and purpose
According to reporting by CBS News, the market sits at Chicago Avenue and Waller Street in a building that previously housed a The Salvation Army thrift store.
Abunaw said the old structure felt unwelcoming, describing its concrete walls and limited entrance as “prison-like.” During renovations, she focused on openness, natural light, and accessibility.
“You have to open it up,” she explained.
Inside, the store blends modern retail design with nostalgic touches inspired by mid-20th-century soda fountains. Abunaw said she wanted the space to feel welcoming and community-centered.
Addressing long-standing food access gaps
The supermarket officially opened in September 2025, providing a full-service grocery option in an area where residents often traveled outside their neighborhood for essentials.
Abunaw avoids describing Austin strictly as a “food desert,” but acknowledges long-standing inequities in grocery access.
“Until we got here, people had to go into surrounding areas just to buy food,” she said, noting the irony that even nearby public officials lacked local options.
Local residents say the store has already made a meaningful difference. Customers now have nearby access to fresh produce, staples, and affordable groceries without long commutes.
Business strategy meets community mission
Before launching the store, Abunaw worked at General Mills, where she gained experience in supply chains and retail operations.
She said running a grocery business requires balancing many small details simultaneously.
“Grocery is not complicated, but it is complex,” she said.
Competitive pricing, she added, is critical to long-term sustainability.
“If we’re charging the same prices as other grocery stores, that means we’re doing it right,” she said.
Continuing a legacy of Black ownership
While proud of the milestone, Abunaw stated that her work builds on a long history of Black-owned grocery businesses in Chicago.
She sees Forty Acres Fresh Market not just as a store, but as part of a broader movement toward economic ownership, self-determination, and community investment — ideals tied to the original promise that inspired its name.
