CHARLESTON, W.Va – Mountaineer Food Bank is taking over the former Save-A-Lot property on Charleston’s West Side for use as a volunteer and distribution hub.
The City of Charleston approved the transfer of that property at 748 Virginia Street West during its meeting on Monday.
“They are willing, able, and, frankly, raring to go to take over the ownership of this property and turn it into a volunteer hub for them,” Charleston City Manager Ben Mishoe said.
The Save-A-Lot property was previously owned by the Partnership of African-American Churches, which used a $440,000 federal ARPA grant to purchase it. PAAC intended to establish a healthcare facility there but struggled to secure additional funding and used the city as a conduit to transfer the property to Mountaineer Food Bank.
“That property is coming back to the city as a straw man–as pass-through–to get it to another nonprofit entity that qualifies for the rehabilitation of dilapidated properties that is the pool of ARPA funding that this project was funded by,” Mishoe said.
Mountaineer Food Bank works with 35-40 partner organizations in Kanawha County but does not have a permanent home in Charleston. Work is expected to begin soon to resolve that issue.
“They will take over all of the obligations of the sub-recipient award. They will take ownership of that building. We will begin the renovations relatively immediately to turn that building into a volunteer and distribution hub for Mountaineer Food Bank,” Mishoe said.
In a release Monday night, the city stated plans are still developing for the facility, but Mountaineer Food Bank intends to work with groups and leaders on the West Side to shape its future. Ward 5 Council Member Jeanine Faegre praised the involved parties for finding this solution.
“I just think it’s a fabulous spot, and I’m very pleased because, particularly, I would say, and I’m sure those that are from the West Side will agree, that at least in a five-block radius, in every way you look, there are folks that are going to utilize that,” she said.
According to the City of Charleston’s ARPA consultant, Mountaineer Food Bank must show progress toward the project by the end of 2026.