MARANA (KGUN-TV) Leaders in Marana started a campaign to bring a full-service grocery store to town.
Town officials say Feed the Need is an effort to show that residents need a new place to buy groceries in the north Marana region. More than 10,000 people live in that area and many have to drive more than 10 miles to buy groceries, according to a press release from Marana leaders.
An online petition has more than 500 supporters so far. The town's website also includes letters and a video with testimony from families. Below is a portion of a letter from Sandra Caine and Evelyn Scala:
I know all my neighbors, and we have had a great deal of discussion about the challenges of shopping and living in Gladden Farms. One of the selling aspects of living within the Gladden Farms neighborhood, was seeing the signage that grocery shopping was “coming soon”. We were very disappointed when the “coming soon” sign was changed, and that discussion of better shopping venues are being neglected. Our friends in Picture Rock and Red Rock would also enjoy the convenience of closer shopping.
Vickie Hathaway, the communications manager for the town of Marana, says the town started the new effort after fielding concerns from residents for years. For more than a decade there was speculation a Fry's would be built at Tangerine Farms Road and Lon Adams Road. It's unclear what is planned for the area.
Hathaway says the goals of the campaign isn't to shame Fry's, but to send a message to all grocery stores that there is a need in the north Marana area.
