Luna’s Groceries, the 2,300-square-foot grocery store located at 2010 Red Arrow Trail in the heart of the Allied-Dunns Marsh neighborhood that had been the dream of owners Mariam and Joe Maldonado for years, officially opened in late January of this year. But seven-degree-weather in the middle of a snowstorm that shut down the city was not a fun time to have a grand opening party. So, a half-season later, the Maldonados will be hosting Luna’s Groceries Grand Opening Party this Saturday, July 27, 2-7 p.m.
“We’re doing it right now because when we opened, it was very cold,” Joe Maldonado says. “We wanted to have a celebration in a warmer atmosphere where people could actually enjoy themselves outside.
“The real reason that we’re having this is because we want to thank all of the folks who have supported us throughout the way whether they be people who have put in the work volunteering or folks that actually contributed financially or helped open doors for us,” he adds. “We wanted to be able to publically acknowledge them and to have a reason to celebrate the neighborhood and open up the space for people to enjoy and build community.”
The Allied-Dunns Marsh Neighborhood, where the Maldonado family has lived for the past 7 years, had been identified as a “food desert” prior to the arrival of Luna’s. Now that food desert is gone and Luna’s is not only a grocery store serving a need, but a place for the community to come together.
“We have people who have been coming in literally every day to get stuff for dinner and stuff for lunch,” says Joe Maldonado.
“A few times a day!” interjects Mariam Maldonado.
“We’ve had people cater events through us and we see people from every background, race, ethnicity, age,” Joe Maldonado says. “We just have all kinds of folks coming into the store. A lot of them have really warm relationships with the staff.”
When I ask Mariam Maldonado if this is the workload she first imagined when Luna’s first opened she responds, “Double!”
“It has been quite a bit of work but the welcoming from the neighborhood has been amazing,” she says. “We serve so many families a day … for us, that makes us happy.”
“We have an amazing team at Luna’s, including my sister who has helped me out with the day-to-day at Luna’s,” she adds.
Mariam says that her favorite part about Luna’s Groceries is all the kids who come into Luna’s to buy candy.
“That’s what makes me happy. I feel like I’m going to be in their lives forever because that’s something that they will always remember growing up … “Oh, that little store – Luna’s. I remember that women with the accent at the store,'” she says.
Luna’s Groceries Grand Opening Party on Saturday will have music, food, and activities. The party will include deejays spinning ‘90s Hip-Hop, Latin music, and international music. There will be over 10 local food carts and vendors, face painting, children’s activities, raffles and a special thank-you acknowledgment for Luna’s volunteers and donors.
DJ Chamo, DJ Ginx and DJ Van ‘Go will be the featured deejays playing a variety of styles of music throughout the day.
“K. Sankofa will do a rap performance and a mariachi band, El Trio Son De Mexico, will be entertaining the crowd, too,” Joe Maldonado says. “It should be a really fun time for everybody. We’re really looking forward to it.”
Luna’s Groceries Grand Opening Party will be held this Saturday, July 27, 2-7 p.m., at Luna’s, 2010 Red Arrow Trail.
