Cultivate Hope Corner Store in Cedar Rapids Announces December 18 Closure
The Cultivate Hope Corner Store, a local independent grocery store in northwest Cedar Rapids, has announced its closure on December 18. Operated by the nonprofit Matthew 25, the store has been deemed no longer financially sustainable, despite receiving strong community support. The store, which opened on Ellis Boulevard in April 2022, previously informed KCRG last summer that it was struggling to turn a profit due to a lack of foot traffic and an inability to compete with the pricing of larger grocery chains. The Cultivate Hope Corner Store offered free produce from the nearby Cultivate Hope Urban Farm and also ran Groundswell, a pay-it-forward cafe.