Your Store of the Queen City

04/08/2026

Are you ready for an affordable grocery access revolution? We need leaders to join our action team to turn Cincinnati's food deserts into food oases and ensure nutritional equity for all! Join the movement: https://forms.gle/qdFEjjUeWbc7iCAh6

Despite Cincinnati being the headquarters of global retail giants, yet:
- 61.9% of the city’s population lives in areas classified as having "low access" to healthy food.
- Over 33% of residents now live in food-insecure households.
- Local nonprofits are seeing a 300% increase in demand since 2020.
- 40,000 children in Hamilton County live in households reliant on SNAP to feed their families.

We are living in a public health emergency that is driving disproportionate rates of diet-related illness, decreasing mental health, exacerbating poverty, threatening the well-being of our future generations, and withering the health of our neighborhoods.

Will you join us in changing the system so we all can thrive? https://forms.gle/qdFEjjUeWbc7iCAh6

We're in full crisis mode in our city as food insecurity is expected to grow significantly in the next few years due to:
- High grocery prices driven by supply chain pressures, global shortages, and tariffs
- Major funding cuts & changes to food safety nets like SNAP and Produce Perks Midwest
- Employment recession
- Lack of affordable housing and the highest rent surges in the nation
- 19% increase in health care costs paired with major funding cuts & changes to Medicare & Medicaid
- Rising costs of transportation
- Increasing utility costs

But this doesn't need to be our story! We are building community power to transform our food system to one built on solidarity, community, and concern for collective well-being. Through community power, collective agency, and ingenuity, we can turn Cincinnati's food deserts into food oases and ensure nutritional equity for all!

Are you in? https://forms.gle/qdFEjjUeWbc7iCAh6

03/31/2026

Thank you for supporting our dream of ending food deserts in Cincinnati through community empowerment! Your support has improved the lives of our neighbors and proven what communities can do together!

We’re fired up to continue taking on the challenges facing our food system and gathering steam for what comes next!

03/30/2026

Why are grocery costs rising? It’s complicated. Let’s explore together. Today’s food for thought: “Recent tariffs on imported goods, including 10% to 50% duties on staples like coffee, bananas, and seafood, have directly increased shelf prices. Additionally, tariffs on steel and aluminum have raised the cost of food packaging (like cans), which manufacturers pass on to consumers.” In your view, what resiliency models could mitigate these risks for both independent retailers and their customers?

A LendingTree survey finds 88% of shoppers, or nearly 9 in 10 Americans, have changed their grocery shopping habits in response to high prices. https://bit.ly/4jwKgkr

03/23/2026

We are grateful for the support of our community over the years, from the Lower Price Hill Community Council, Urban Appalachian Community Coalition and Community Matters (who helped Lower Price Hill neighbors organize to form the Meiser's Fresh Grocery & Deli food hub) to Price Hill Will and City Of Cincinnati Government (just two of the many who partnered with us to develop the space where Meiser’s could serve the community) to our generous donors like the Haile Foundation, Greater Cincinnati Foundation, and so many who believe in the dream of fresh grocery access for all. Our partners like the Freestore Foodbank, La Soupe, and Last Mile Food Rescue helped us provide free food for those who needed it. Leadership Council for Nonprofits helped us with training and Cincinnati Children's and Ohio Department of Behavioral Healthg generously gave program support for the wellbeing of our community. These are just a few of the many supporters who dared to dream along with us for a healthier future for neighborhoods without access to fresh, affordable groceries.

We are heartbroken that we had to close the Meiser’s storefront. This loss has added fuel to our fire for facing systemic challenges head on and increased our sense of urgency for continuing to fight for food justice. Your Store of the Queen City has shifted our focus to strategically developing the strong foundations necessary for the longevity of small grocery entities. We are gathering like-minded people who are ready to join our team to make that happen. If you’re in, comment below and I’ll message you with how to get plugged in.

03/20/2026

We're so grateful for all of the support we've received at this time. If like us, you need to be in community and let loose a little, we hope you will join us tonight at Second Place for their Sing for Spring, Sing for Good Stuff starting at 10:45pm. Thank you Second Place for fundraising all month and collecting food to ensure fresh food for our LPH neighbors!

03/18/2026

With deep gratitude for this journey together to bring fresh grocery access to all Cincinnati's neighborhoods, YSQC announces that our flagship location, Meiser's Fresh Grocery, is permanently closed as of today March 18, 2026. We honor the dream that created Meiser's, a Cincinnati where everyone has access to fresh, affordable groceries. We celebrate the 5 years of incredible neighbor-led impact we made together in LPH - serving 9,000+ neighbors, proving the power of community leadership, and revealing systemic food access challenges. Your impact is a legacy.

While we are closing this storefront, we remain boldly committed to building the infrastructure and financial clarity needed for future neighbor-led grocery initiatives to thrive. We are shifting directions to tackle the systemic challenges to our food access head-on for the success of all food access organizations in Cincinnati. We are actively looking for board members to strengthen our team. If you are interested, please email [email protected]

For our LPH neighbors, the food pantry and community gardens at Community Matters remain open to the community. Community Matters will steward this space and lead future engagement about food access in Lower Price Hill.

03/17/2026

We are exactly ONE WEEK AWAY from our next Kindred Table & Neighborhood Exchange!

Join us next Tuesday, March 24, at Outerspace 6 PM - 7 PM for a special evening dedicated to “Feeding Your Mind.” We are honored to welcome Dr. Barbara Walker from the UC Osher Center for Integrative Health. She’ll be sharing how the right foods can increase your energy and help you feel your best.

What to expect:
* FREE meal expertly prepared by Chef Steph (curated by Karen, Jasmine, and Dr. Walker).
* Learn the food-to-mood connection.
* We’ll have FREE meal prep kits and kitchen tools to take home!

03/13/2026

🏀 MARCH MADNESS MEETS GIVING BACK TO AFFORDABLE FOOD ACCESS! 🏀

All through March (and extended until April 6th for the Championship Game!), Second Place is donating $1.50 from every Espresso Martini sold directly to our store.

Want to prove your basketball bracket skills? Stop by Second Place between Selection Sunday (March 15) and the first game on Tuesday (March 17). Enter with a food donation for our drive or make a $5 cash/QR donation at the bar. The winner gets a massive 2P gift basket AND a spot on the Wall of Fame!

Come through, fill out a bracket, and let’s do some good stuff while we watch the games! 🏆