logo
Historic Eastside grocery store reopens after 14-year closure

Historic Eastside grocery store reopens after 14-year closure

Yahoo26-02-2025
A historic grocery store is making its long-awaited return to Jacksonville's Eastside after being closed for 14 years. The store, known as The Corner at Debs Store, reopened in Sept. 2024, offering a new look while honoring the legacy of a beloved local institution that had been a cornerstone of the community for nearly a century.
Located at the corner of East 5th Street and Florida Avenue, the red brick building has been home to the Debs family since the store's founding in 1921. For many years, it was a staple for Eastside residents, providing a variety of fresh food options and serving as a gathering spot for the community.
Joseph Debs, a surviving family member, recalled the profound impact the store had on the area. He closed the store in 2011 following the death of his father, Nicholas Debs. However, after receiving numerous requests from residents asking when the store would reopen, Debs decided to bring it back.
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<
'The Eastside represented a lot to me and my family,' said Debs. 'And I had one of the members of that community ask, 'Where do we get our fresh food, and when are you gonna reopen?''
That question was the catalyst for reopening the store, which now provides a completely revamped experience for shoppers.
The response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive. Troy Williams, a customer, expressed his amazement upon walking into the newly opened store.
'I was blown away. I walked through the door and I was like, 'Whoa,'' Williams said. 'I'm just proud of what Debs has done here, to even think of bringing it back.'
But the store offers more than just groceries. Now owned by Lift Jax, the store also houses services from VyStar and Goodwill upstairs.
[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]
'VyStar operates a financial fitness center here, offering financial service education and access to financial services for members of the neighborhood,' David Garfunkel, CEO of Lift Jax, explained. 'Goodwill operates the Good Career Center, which is all about career and workforce development.'
Lift Jax has worked hard to maintain the rich history of the Debs Store. Garfunkel pointed out that they even have a mini-museum showcasing the store's legacy.
'It served the community for nearly a century, so we're just building on that legacy and refreshing it for the 21st century,' Garfunkel said.
Inside the store, employees are proud to highlight the variety of fresh produce, meats, and other goods now available.
'We have the red thread down here,' employee Monique Presley said while giving a tour of the store. 'We've placed a lot of different condiments, sweet potatoes, apples, oranges, fruits, vegetables, beef, pork, and even smoked meat on the side.'
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
More than half of the store's employees are Eastside residents, including Presley, who has fond memories of shopping at the store as a child.
'I don't think I can put into words the feeling that I get when I have people come here who don't have the means to go to Walmart, but they're still able to find the things they're looking for,' Presley said.
The Corner at Debs Store emphasizes its commitment to offering affordable prices for high-quality service.
'These people have come from not even having a place to go,' Presley said. 'We don't want to come here and charge them seven dollars for a carton of eggs.'
For Larry Phillips, an employee at Debs, the reopening of the store was an emotional experience.
'After being here and visiting with the community, especially the elderly, it meant so much to them. There were tears in their eyes when the store came back to life,' Phillips recalled.
Debs noted that the most rewarding part of reopening the store has been reconnecting with the community.
'The residents we interact with—their reaction to the store being here—they're interested not only in shopping, but in engaging with the stories, reconnecting, and greeting each other. It has truly become a neighborhood hub again,' Debs said.
The partners behind the store are excited to continue the Debs family legacy, which began more than 100 years ago, and they look forward to serving the community for generations to come.
Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Customer sparks outrage with photo of bizarre discovery in shelf at Goodwill: 'This is getting ridiculous'
Customer sparks outrage with photo of bizarre discovery in shelf at Goodwill: 'This is getting ridiculous'

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Yahoo

Customer sparks outrage with photo of bizarre discovery in shelf at Goodwill: 'This is getting ridiculous'

A shocking post to the subreddit r/ThriftGrift revealed out-of-place high prices for knick-knacks at a Goodwill. "This is getting ridiculous," the OP wrote, along with images of somewhat shabby trinkets being sold for exceptionally high prices. It's no secret that thrifting has blown up in popularity in recent years. Younger generations have found thrift stores to be an oasis of cheap, high-quality items that support a greener, cleaner future. Amid the heightened popularity of thrifting, the Trump administration's tariffs on imported goods have shifted even more attention to secondhand shopping. Price hikes on imported clothing from global retailers are leading consumers to turn toward more affordable options. Business Insider reported that ThredUp, a large second-hand clothing retailer, "predicts it will reach $73 billion by 2028 in the US and $350 billion globally, up from $197 billion in 2023." This is overwhelmingly good news for thrift stores, which have always been competing with cheap fast-fashion clothing that uplifts micro-trends that go out of style quickly and are made with low-quality materials that break swiftly. As a result, fast fashion is responsible for 10% of global planet-harming pollution and takes up an expansive proportion of landfills, which both pollute the air, water, and soil. Thrift stores, which usually resell clothes that have long lifespans, ensure that one does not have to replenish their wardrobe constantly. Meanwhile, they are substantially making a difference to the environment. This Goodwill, in particular, may have responded by capitalizing on consumers' newfound reliance on secondhand items. Despite the prices being an outlier from typical thrift stores, they still sparked anger among shoppers. The appeal of thrift stores has always been cheap goods that support the circular economy. Now, these prices reflect otherwise. "Thankfully, the Goodwill stores near me haven't gotten this out of control with their hard goods yet," wrote one commenter. Another responded in complete disbelief at the prices. "Who's buying this stuff?" they asked. What's your primary motivation in shopping at thrift stores? Cheaper clothes Trendier items Reduced environmental impact I don't thrift Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.

Man Thrifts Louis Vuitton Bag for $19—Then Discovers the Original Price
Man Thrifts Louis Vuitton Bag for $19—Then Discovers the Original Price

Newsweek

time2 days ago

  • Newsweek

Man Thrifts Louis Vuitton Bag for $19—Then Discovers the Original Price

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Thrifting can certainly be hit and miss, and you just never know what you're going to find. But as one shopper sifted through the range of dupes and fakes, one bag in particular left him speechless. While shopping at a Goodwill in Georgia on August 10, Reddit user u/p—py was looking through the range of handbags on display. Many of the bags are often fake, but he never misses an opportunity to look through them, just in case he manages to find a diamond in the rough. Indeed, on this occasion, that was exactly what happened. As he was perusing the bags, u/p—py told Newsweek that he spotted one that had a "very good, quality feeling" and he knew it must be good. Much to his amazement, the bag looks like a real Louis Vuitton Cabas Piano monogrammed leather tote bag. The Louis Vuitton bag found in Goodwill. The Louis Vuitton bag found in Goodwill. u/p--py / Reddit "I was very happy to find it because my wife has been looking for a smaller bag since she doesn't carry a lot of things with her and this bag was a perfect size," he said. "The vachetta leather patina and the date code were correct." A new Louis Vuitton Piano bag can retail for over $2,500, and used ones can be found online anywhere between $300 up to $900. As for u/p—py, he paid just $19.99 at Goodwill for this stunning find. After looking at the bag properly, he didn't have any doubts that it was real. It's now become one of his top five favorite thrifting purchases. Although the bag was in poor condition, a thorough clean has helped it look almost brand new and it's "ready to be loved again" by his wife. He continued: "This is my third vintage Louis Vuitton piece. One of my pieces was authenticated through eBay, and the leather, stitching, canvas, and quality are alike. I also shared it with a hobby authenticator who looked over the bag and let me know it was an employee purchase because of the circle cut out on the interior of the leather." Since buying the bag on August 10, u/p—py has also put in a repair request with Louis Vuitton's digital care team. He noted that obvious fakes are usually denied, so it bodes well that his request for this bag was assessed and approved. He couldn't resist sharing images of the "authentic Louis Vuitton" on Reddit, and the post has amazed many internet users. Hundreds of commenters have praised u/p—py for his find, while others questioned the bag's authenticity, leading to over 200 comments so far. The Louis Vuitton bag after being bought at Goodwill. The Louis Vuitton bag after being bought at Goodwill. u/p--py / Reddit "The bag received plenty of praise from people who also own vintage pieces. But it's very clear that people who have never owned a Louis Vuitton are still adamant in their ability to authenticate bags. It's good to know there is still a knowledge gap of what is real versus fake," he told Newsweek. What matters most to u/p—py is how much his wife loves the bag. Among the responses to the Reddit post, one comment reads: "Always a huge dopamine hit to find luxury brands! Tom Ford, Brahmin and Christine Herrera are my latest!" Another Reddit user wrote: "Great find OP! From what I can see, this bag is almost certainly authentic." But not everyone agreed, as one person replied: "Normally the patterns line up perfectly at the seam, I'm not fully convinced this is authentic." Do you have any viral videos or pictures that you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@ and they could appear on our site.

Goodwill Industries partners with Google for free AI training course
Goodwill Industries partners with Google for free AI training course

Yahoo

time31-07-2025

  • Yahoo

Goodwill Industries partners with Google for free AI training course

July 30 (UPI) -- Goodwill Industries has partnered with Google to train 200,000 people in artificial intelligence skills in the United States. Goodwill, which helps people find jobs, will provide Google's AI Essentials course at no charge, the nonprofit said in a news release. Google debuted the course in 2024. Goodwill has offered Google's digital skills programs since 2017 with more than 400,000 Americans going into well-paying jobs. The new course is available to anyone, including Goodwill employees and those who use Goodwill nonprofit career support. There are 150 local Goodwill organizations that offer assistance that includes employment placement and job training. Anyone younger than 18 must have adult supervision while participating in the course. The 10-hour AI Essentials course teaches how to use generative AI effectively in day-to-day work. It includes practical, hands-on experience in tasks that involve videos, reading and interactive exercises. Activities involve Chat GPT, Copilot, Gemini. Upon completion of the course, participants will earn a certificate from Google. "At Goodwill, we believe that providing the right skills to people opens doors to opportunity," Steve Preston, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International, said in a statement. "AI is transforming the workplace, and thanks to support from we're ensuring that individuals can gain the essential knowledge needed to thrive in this digital era." Goodwill in a news release noted that 86% of graduates say AI skills taught in the course will make them more productive and/or efficient in their jobs. And 80% say those skills will improve their overall job performance. The application form is available on Goodwill's website. "Google is proud to continue our long-standing collaboration with Goodwill, helping more people access local training for well-paying jobs," Hector Mujica, head of Americas Philanthropy, said. "Goodwill's offering of Google's AI Essentials course will empower even more individuals to advance their economic mobility and prepare for the jobs of today and tomorrow." The Google organization has a $150 million-plus investment portfolio that aims to boost access to education and economic opportunities. Goodwill also has partnered with Comcast on digital literacy and workforce development. Goodwill, which was founded in 1902, sells donated items in more than 3,300 locations in the United States and Canada. Edgar J. Helms, a Methodist minister, collected items in wealthier areas of Boston, and trained and hired poor people to mend and repair the used goods. The company's philosophy is a "hand up, not a handout." Solve the daily Crossword

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store