A new, locally owned ‘neighborhood’ grocery store opens in Columbus. See inside

Green Island Grocery, 6801 River Rd, Building J, had its grand opening Saturday, bringing a new option for Columbus food shoppers seeking quality and convenience.

The locally owned store promises fresh daily seafood, certified Angus beef, distinctive produce and everyday essentials. Lori Cody, general manager of Green Island Grocery, told the Ledger-Enquirer the opening brought an array of emotions.

“I’m surprised I haven’t cried yet,” Cody said. “This is 18 months of planning, which piece of equipment we wanted here, and then it’s getting all here and fixing it up. It’s a little overwhelming and super exciting.”

Personal and professional opportunities inspired Cody’s journey to Columbus. With 15 years working in the grocery industry, she moved to Columbus from Dallas, Texas, to embrace a new opportunity alongside the Green Island Grocery team. The vision was clear from the start.

“I met with (co-owner) Mulford (Waldrop), and he told me what he was looking for,” Cody said, “and I said,’ I’m up for the challenge. Let’s do this.’”

Shoppers who stroll through Green Island’s aisles will find more than conventional items.

The produce section features everyday staples and unusual items. The store distinguishes itself with its high-grade meats and ultra-fresh seafood, some sourced directly from local farms, and even hosts Columbus’ only in-store lobster tank, Cody said.

“We are a little bit of a niche store,” she said, “but you can still do a complete shop.”

The grocery has strong community partnerships, including a collaboration with the former owners of Columbus Corner Bakery, Joseph Dellascio and Martha Stephens Hart. Dellascio and Hart bake most of the pastries, cakes and other baked goods offered at Green Island Grocery.

Fresh-baked treats cream horns and gingerbread houses already have become customer favorites, Cody said.

The commitment to unusual offerings extends to hot foods, with a daily hot bar featuring soups and salads for lunch and dinner, a pizza and sandwich counter, and soon, a variety of ready-made meals for on-the-go families.

For co-owner Mulford Waldrop, the idea for Green Island Grocery stemmed from a desire for convenience.

“I just didn’t feel like we had a lot of good beef and good seafood here in town,” Waldrop said. “I wanted to add this here, so people have convenience on the north side.”

Local ownership is at the heart of the new store’s approach. Engaging the community shapes the product selection and the store’s direction.

Cody stressed her desire to hear directly from shoppers about what products matter most to them.

“It really, truly is the community store,” Cody said. “It’s not my store. I want to hear from the community to know what they would like us to carry.”

Waldrop echoed this sentiment.

“We’re trying to make it feel like a neighborhood feel, to have what people want, to have a good mixture of the organic and those types of products but also have your very conventional grocery,” Waldrop said. “We wanted to have a grocery where all different types of people can shop.”

While setting up the store was no easy feat, with none of the owners having prior grocery experience, Waldrop said Cody’s expertise has been essential.

“We hired her, and she was instrumental in getting it all set up and the vendors,” Waldrop said. “We’ve had some great vendors help us through it. It was quite a process, but glad to be open.”

Cody said Green Island Grocery plans to launch online ordering and delivery, distinguishable by its hands-on local team. Cody also said the grocery plans to host events such as cooking classes to help shoppers learn how to turn their groceries into delicious meals.

As the store settles into the neighborhood, Cody hopes every customer leaves with more than just groceries.

“I want [customers] to walk out thinking, ‘Wow, I just learned something,’” she said. “I want them to have a warm, good feeling about being here.”