Wendell Pierce to Open a Grocery Store in New Orleans

Actor Wendell Pierce has plans to open his very own grocery store in his hometown of New Orleans. Along with two business partners, Pierce will be opening a Sterling Farms grocery store in a low-income neighborhood. He says he has plans to open several others soon after. 

Back in December, Pierce opened a Sterling Express, a convenience store with a similar mission that sells fresh produce, salad, as well as the convenience store usuals such as chips and soda. 

"Bringing fresh food into these areas helps create economic growth," the Treme actor said. "But it also helps people understand that there's value in eating better. It's not something that's only available in a better neighborhood."

Sterling Farms will be fully equipped with a deli and bakery, as well as a seafood counter. Since it will cater to low-income shoppers, the store will offer a shuttle to customers who spend more than $50. Sterling Farms will also host a monthly cookout to raise funds for the community. 

"When I think of Sterling Farms, I remember those Friday nights with my mother," Pierce said. "That communal thing of actually going to get the fresh food that you are going to cook and eat together. That's a memory. As corny as it sounds, it feeds the soul as much as the body."