The Facts

Fresh-food support for corner stores, fee waivers and financing for new grocers, and housing incentives for projects with grocery stores are Supervisor Mahmood’s next proposals after pivoting away from a grocery story vacancy tax. He also wants property owners to be able to divide former supermarkets into the smaller spaces many grocers prefer.

The Context

San Francisco’s existing healthy-retailer law allows grants, loans, permit assistance, store redesign, and other support for food retailers in underserved neighborhoods.

The GrowSF Take

Fee waivers, flexible zoning, smaller retail spaces, and more housing address the actual economics of opening a grocery store. This is a great direction to make grocery stores viable. Any public subsidies should be targeted and lead to measurable outcomes, but San Francisco should move quickly on the permitting and zoning reforms.