Cairo, Illinois, loses its only grocery store — again
The sign in front of Cairo, Illinois' Rise Community Market in more optimistic days. The store opened in 2023 and closed in 2025. Reginald Hardwick/IPM
Cairo, Illinois, spent seven years as a “food desert” — until 2023, when residents banded together to open a co-op grocery store. It was called Rise Community Market, and as of January, the store is closed. We’ll talk about what went wrong, and what lessons organizers are taking from the experience.
Guests
Robert Edwards
Former manager, Rise Community Market
Steven Tarver
Former board member, Rise Community Market
