In Las Vegas, a city typically associated with tourism and entertainment, grocery stores have become an unexpected topic of discussion this spring and early summer.
In April, the Asian market H Mart opened on Decatur Boulevard and Sahara Avenue, making a splash in the local grocery scene.
On the same day, the multinational discount supermarket chain Aldi inaugurated two stores in Henderson and North Las Vegas.
In May, Aldi followed up with a third store on southwest Rainbow Boulevard, while Whole Foods relocated its busy market from just outside Summerlin to Downtown Summerlin at Sahara and Town Center Drive.
Despite being one of the country’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas for the past 40 years, Las Vegas has continued to face challenges related to food accessibility.
Food deserts—regions where residents lack access to affordable and nutritious food—are prevalent in Southern Nevada.
Three Square, the nonprofit food bank serving Lincoln, Nye, Esmeralda, and Clark counties, has identified 16 food deserts in Clark County, including 10 in Las Vegas.
According to Lisa Segler, chief operations and strategy officer at Three Square, their definition of a food desert includes families without a personal vehicle who live at least half a mile away from a fresh food provider.
Providers must offer fresh items such as produce or dairy, not just shelf-stable goods.
Typically, food deserts are found in urban, low-income areas that do not provide sufficient incentive for grocery retailers to set up shop.
This issue is particularly evident in Downtown Las Vegas, an area experiencing rapid residential development but still lacking major grocery store options.
During a State of the City address on April 30, Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley announced plans for a grocery store at Symphony Park as part of the Cello Tower and Origin development, which will include retail and dining options alongside over 400 residential units.
Although this luxury development is in the works, it is likely years away from completion and may not address the immediate needs of all residents in the area.
Factors like income levels and a lack of residential density often deter grocers from entering neighborhoods classified as food deserts.
City Councilwoman Olivia Diaz has been actively engaging with the Department of Economic Development to explore ways to attract more grocery options to Downtown Las Vegas.
Diaz noted, “We are super excited about what’s happened in the Arts District and more residential being added [Downtown] and all of this justifies our narrative that we need more grocery store offerings.”
While the city’s Department of Economic and Urban Development works to facilitate new developments, the city does not own the properties or land available for lease.
Their efforts focus on connecting developers with prospective tenants.
As an example, Mario’s Westside Market was relocated to a larger space to enhance its success, demonstrating the city’s commitment to ensuring all communities have decent grocery options.
In her own district, Diaz announced that the homegrown supermarket chain La Bonita is set to open a new store in a formerly vacant Kmart building on East Bonanza Road at Nellis Boulevard by October or November, making it the eighth location for La Bonita in Las Vegas.
“They’re going to bring their flagship here, with a taqueria, juice bar, meat and cheese areas, that great produce section that’s something everyone is always attracted to, and a bakery,” Diaz stated.
With over 70% of the local demographic identifying as Latino, La Bonita’s offering is tailored to serve the community’s specific shopping preferences.
Aldi’s regional vice president, Shawn Eddy, emphasized Las Vegas’s significance in the company’s national expansion plans, confirming that a fourth Aldi store on South Decatur will also open by the end of the year.
Eddy explained, “When it comes to choosing sites, we consider several factors, but the bottom line of it is convenient locations for shoppers to support high-volume traffic daily.”
The initial reception for Aldi in Vegas has exceeded expectations, due in part to the chain’s national presence and its business model focused on offering high-quality products at lower prices.
The discount retailer offers primarily private-label products, allowing customers to save as much as 36% on their average grocery bill without sacrificing quality, according to Eddy.
Another distinguishing feature of Aldi is its quarter cart system, where customers deposit a quarter to unlock their shopping cart, which they retrieve once they return it.
This unique system helps prevent cart theft and allows Aldi to direct its resources toward enhancing the in-store experience.
California-based Grocery Outlet has also joined the growing list of grocery options in the Las Vegas Valley by opening two additional stores, bringing its total to five since its entry into the market in 2022.
Grocery Outlet’s approach distinguishes it from traditional retailers, focusing on opportunistic sourcing to offer bargain prices on products.
“It’s about how we buy and how we sell,” laid out Layla Kasha, chief marketing officer for Grocery Outlet.
For instance, they might offer seasonal products—like boxes of cereal adorned with holiday designs—that are still fresh and perfectly edible, but available at a significant discount as they move quickly through the supply chain.
Kasha stated, “Our stores are independently owned and operated, so the owners are part of the community where they live, the fabric of the neighborhood.
This allows them to be hyper-local in what they source, and better decide how to participate as part of the community—what food banks and schools to sponsor.”
The Grocery Outlet stores are strategically distributed across the Valley, including areas identified as food deserts, contributing to the community’s access to affordable food.
Kasha noted, “We do go into a lot of food deserts, places where the only grocery store is too far or there’s only one.
We get excited about adding optionality and variety and bringing deals to communities that are underserved.”
In addition to expanding retail options, Las Vegas is actively addressing the food desert challenge in other ways.
Three Square engages in strategic partnerships with grocery stores—including new arrivals like Aldi—through its food rescue program.
This initiative collects unsold food and redistributes it to nonprofit organizations and faith-based groups to serve the community.
Three Square also collaborates with local businesses to rescue surplus prepared food from events at Las Vegas Strip facilities.
The food bank utilizes available data to identify suitable locations for distribution, examining existing partnerships and the demographics of the neighborhoods served.
Segler elaborated, “We sit in meetings with multiple partners when a retail grocer reaches out looking for new locations to open, and they want to know where the best places could be.
We overlay maps and data to identify where gaps exist and recommend locations with the most impact for potential new grocery stores.”
While Three Square and local governments have limited control over where major grocery chains choose to open, they can influence decisions through data-driven insights and established community relationships.
The significance of these efforts is underscored by recent data from Feeding America, revealing that food insecurity has worsened within the Las Vegas community.
Currently, one in six individuals in the area faces hunger, including roughly one in five children.
Approximately 377,000 people in the community are unsure of where their next meal will come from, a situation exacerbated by federal funding cuts impacting organizations like Three Square.
Segler reported a loss of about two million pounds of food due to funding cuts and estimated that the food bank needs to compensate for a total of five million pounds this year alone.
As demand for assistance grows, Three Square remains committed to addressing food insecurity, despite challenges posed by supply chain issues, tariff changes, and evolving governmental policies.
Segler stated, “Three Square stands ready for what is to come and will do everything in our power to feed the community.
We know our community absolutely shows up every time we have a crisis, always comes together to help those in need.
This city gives generously, and this time is no different.”
Residents seeking food assistance can contact the Three Square call center at 702-765-4030.
For volunteer or donation inquiries, please reach out to 702-644-3663 ext. 349 or email [email protected].
image source from：lasvegasweekly
