10.1177/0891242404273517ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY / August 2005Pothukuchi / ATTRACTING SUPERMA KETS TO THE INNER CITY Attracting Supermarkets to Inner-City Neighborhoods: Economic Development Outside the Box

The paucity of accessible supermarkets is a continuing concern in inner-city commu-nities. Based on a survey of planners in 32 communities, this article examines initia-tives to encourage grocery retail investment, reasons for the existence or absence of initiatives, and factors in successful developments. This research shows that system-atic, citywide grocery initiatives are rare, with such efforts limited to particular sites or developments. Reliance on private initiatives, absence of grassroots requests for action, and assignment of lower priority to grocery stores in commercial revitalization programs explain planner inaction. Successful initiatives are characterized by politi-cal leadership, competent public agency participation, and, often, partnerships with nonprofit agencies. This article also presents recommendations for community and economic development planners to increase grocery investment in underserved areas