Fresh Local Groceries Coming Summer 2026
We're building something great in your neighborhood.
Fresh Local Groceries Coming Summer 2026
We're building something great in your neighborhood.
We're building something great in your neighborhood.
We're building something great in your neighborhood.
The Venice Market is on the way with an excellent selection of fresh, quality products at friendly prices.
For generations, the communities of Venice, Brooklyn, and Madison, Illinois - home to roughly 6,000 residents - have lived in the shadows of economic disinvestment. These historically marginalized towns have long endured the absence of critical infrastructure: no grocery store, no medical clinic, limited access to quality housing, and minimal job opportunities. For many families, these conditions have contributed to persistent poverty, poor health outcomes, and limited opportunities for youth to thrive.
The closure of the Venice School District’s only school building in 2020, due to structural safety concerns, underscored just how deeply this disinvestment had taken root. That year, students and staff were forced into virtual learning from their homes. In 2021, they were temporarily relocated to the Melvin Price Depot in Granite City. But this setback became a rallying point for meaningful action. Through the strong and sustained advocacy of Representative Jay Hoffman and Senator Christopher Belt, the district received a transformative $26 million state grant in 2022. Construction of a new, state-of-the-art school began in March 2024 and was completed in May 2025, symbolizing a major step toward educational equity for the region’s youth.
Even as new educational infrastructure began to rise, another glaring need remained - access to healthy food. Venice, Brooklyn, and Madison had long been classified as food deserts, with residents forced to travel long distances for basic groceries. That changed thanks to the leadership of Governor J.B. Pritzker, whose statewide grocery store initiative provided a $2.4 million grant for the development of a full-service grocery store in Venice. With additional support from committed local business leader Dr. Ed Hightower, former Superintendent of the Edwardsville School District and nationally known NCAA basketball referee, the vision expanded to include 10,500 square feet of grocery and retail space, a 2,500-square-foot pizza restaurant, and 36 new single-family homes.
Equally transformative is the long-overdue effort to address the region’s lack of access to healthcare. For years, residents have lived without a local clinic or medical facility, often relying on emergency rooms for basic care. In a major breakthrough, Mr. Larry McCulley, President of the Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation, stepped forward with a bold commitment to build a comprehensive medical facility in the heart of Venice. This new health center will provide primary care, mental health support, and preventive care, finally bringing life-saving services within reach for the families who need them most, all scheduled for completion in 2026.
The Venice Revitalization Initiative is more than a collection of projects; it is a shared vision brought to life by an unprecedented coalition. Governor J.B. Pritzker, Deputy Governor Andy Manar, Representative Jay Hoffman, Senator Christopher Belt, and the leadership at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville joined forces with former Mayor Tyrone Echols, current Mayor Phil White, and grassroots leaders to turn years of neglect into a foundation for long-term opportunity.
Today, hope is being restored in Venice, Brooklyn, and Madison—not just through buildings and programs, but through the promise that when state, local, and university leaders listen to the needs of a community and commit to real investment, transformation is not only possible - it’s already underway.
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