A full-service grocery store is planned for 1210 Broadway, the now vacant storefront that formerly housed Gray’s Foods.
Rockford resident Calvin Holliman plans to open Mama Lisa's Groceries to honor his mother, Lisa Busby, a longtime former employee at Gray’s Foods, who will run the store.
“It’s crazy how life turns around,” Holliman said. “Now to have the store that she worked at for so many years. We’re trying to open it up for her.”
According to Holliman, the store’s interior is undergoing renovations and will be ready for a soft opening within weeks.
“I've started putting milk, bread and other items on the shelves,” he said. “I’ll just keep building it as we go. I have my family behind me right now and they’re willing to work for me to help me get this off the ground.”
Gray’s Foods closed its Broadway store in 2018 after 44 years at the location. The space was then briefly occupied by another grocer, Enrique’s Fresh Market.
Holliman is hopeful his new grocery store will fill a void in the area.
“There are no Walmart’s in the area, Schnucks has stores on 11th Street and Charles Street, but those stores are quite a distance away,” he said. “There’s an Asian grocery store and a Mexican grocer in the area but there are no stores selling American food.”
Holliman's sentiments are echoed by 11th ward Alderman Tuffy Quinonez.
"The people of the 11th ward would welcome a grocery store," said Quinonez, D-11, said. "This location is right in the middle of a business district and it's surrounded by homes. So, we're looking at a lot of people in this area where he's opening up. So, I'd like to help them out in any way I can or any way the city of Rockford can."
Holliman, 36, was born and raised in Rockford.
He acknowledges he has no experience in running a grocery store but said his supporting cast is as good as it gets.
“I’m fresh in,” he said. “My mom has more experience than me. She worked for 20 years at the grocery store, so I’m putting my faith in Mama Lisa.”
The Winnebago County Board approved a license for Holliman to operate the store Jan. 5.
Alderman Quinonez is hopeful the business will receive a warm welcome.
"This is going to be great news for all of the people that live in the area," he said. "As soon as the news gets out, people will be excited about this."
