Bring Back the Corner Store

An article by Dave Olverson in Strong Towns describes the rise and fall—and potential renewed rise—of neighborhood grocery stores, otherwise known as corner stores, bodegas, or, in trendy planning parlance, “accessory commercial units” or ACUs.

Like their residential partner accessory dwelling units (ADUs), ACUs are the latest iteration of a planning trend that revives an old idea that was made illegal or impractical by modern zoning regulations.

“Beyond issues of equity, neighborhood shops that existed decades ago provided another benefit, one that a sterile term like ‘commercial unit’ doesn’t capture. Those business owners were an important part of the community.” Regardless of the terminology, Olverson hopes small neighborhood stores will be legalized in more places.

Olverson points out that bringing back more corner stores could make food and other essential items more accessible, particularly in neighborhoods lacking major grocery stores, reduce the need for driving, and provide opportunities for social interactions.