MARION – An empty storefront in downtown Marion is breathing new life, thanks to the vision of the Center Street Community Health Center.
The Center Street Corner Market has opened at 110 S. Main St., offering Marion County residents another grocery option – fresh produce, meats, dairy products, dry goods and a variety of basic household items – all in a close and convenient downtown location.
“The Center Street Market just kind of fit what we needed to accomplish,” said T.J. Badertscher, community outreach coordinator for the Community Health Center, which operates the store. “It offers healthy food access to our patients and allows them to make improved dietary changes.”
The market, which celebrated its grand opening Nov. 6, is housed on the first floor of the iconic brick building formerly known as A. Schulte Cigars at the corner of Main and Center Streets. It’s open seven days a week, from 9 to 6 weekdays and from 11 to 5 on Saturday and Sunday.
Badertscher said the market, which is decorated with vintage signage from the old cigar store, gets shipments from regular suppliers and carries both major brands and off-brands. One of its specialty items is Marion’s own Riverside Homemade Ice Cream, which has created a flavor only available at the market – lemon custard gelato.
Although the market venture is new, the Community Health Center has a long history in Marion, beginning in 1992 when the Marion Free Clinic was established by Dr. William Whitehead, his wife, Kay, and others in an effort to provide basic health services to indigent residents.
Badertscher said the clinic, which operated in a donated storefront at 127 S. State St., was staffed entirely by volunteers. Local doctors donated supplies from their private practices and private donations helped pay for needed medical equipment, making the facility “a community coming together for a singular goal.”
Soon residents were lining up long before the clinic’s doors opened, Badertscher said, and their needs shifted from acute to chronic care. In 2003 the Free Clinic merged with the Marion Medical Center to form the Center Street Community Clinic and relocated to the second floor of 205 W. Center St. But their mission remained the same.
The Clinic’s hours expanded as the needs of the community grew and so did the staff. By January 2008, the Clinic was serving about 200 patients a month until I later that year received funding as a FQHC, or Federally Qualified Health Center. Dental services were added in 2010, followed by behavioral health services and even optometry.
In 2016, a second location was opened in downtown Mt. Gilead called the Morrow Family Health Center. The Community Health Center also expanded into Crawford County with the opening last month of the Galion Family Health at 126 Harding Way East.
As for the market, Badertscher said, business has been steady. He said it’s also been a “big plus” for downtown workers who can now stop in for a few fresh or frozen items before heading home. “So far it’s been going very well. We’ve had great feedback from the community. They love that the need is being met.”
“We’re extremely excited to have the opportunity to provide this for downtown,” he said. “We look forward to these new services, and much like our roots, are excited to continue to serve and help our community with all the services we are able to offer.”
