New Old Town Grocery Store to Open in 2027
Feed the Mass is converting the historic Blagen Block into a community hub featuring affordable produce.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Healthy Food
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Residents in Old Town will gain access to a dedicated grocery store and community hub as nonprofit Feed the Mass repurposes the historic Blagen Block building. Acquired in January 2026, the four-story property is currently being converted into the Nourish Building to address local food insecurity.
Why it matters
Old Town currently lacks a dedicated neighborhood grocery store, a gap this project intends to bridge by providing affordable produce and community space. The initiative aims to improve food access for a low-income community by capping produce prices at under $2 per pound.
Feed the Mass operates with an annual budget of $2.5 million and currently distributes 5,000 meals each week. The new 4,000-square-foot market in the Nourish Building is set to feature produce priced at no more than $2 per pound.
The players
Feed the Mass
A nonprofit organization that distributes thousands of meals weekly and provides food access programming.
Third Eye Books
A bookstore that operates a location called Kultural Korner within the Blagen Block building.
The details
The four-story Blagen Block building, formerly an Airbnb regional office, is being transformed into a hub with coworking spaces, classrooms, and a coffee shop. Feed the Mass, which has operated since 2016, utilized a $150,000 Health-Related Social Needs grant to help secure the down payment. Third Eye Books will continue to operate its Kultural Korner location within the building as the site undergoes conversion.
Timeline
2016: Feed the Mass began operating.
2021: The organization moved into its Northwest Davis Street headquarters.
January 2026: Feed the Mass bought the Blagen Block building.
January 2027: The 1st & Nourish Market is scheduled to open.
Beyond the Bridges
This project marks a significant scaling of operations for the nonprofit, shifting from mobile meal distribution established in 2016 to permanent community infrastructure. The conversion follows a pattern of local organizations repurposing former office spaces to address long-standing gaps in neighborhood services.
Old Town residents can expect the 1st & Nourish Market to offer bulk dry goods and produce capped at $2 per pound starting in early 2027. The building will also serve as a community hub providing coworking spaces and classrooms for local use.
The takeaway
The Nourish Building represents a major shift toward permanent, affordable food infrastructure in Old Town. Watch for the market opening in January 2027 to access produce priced at or below $2 per pound.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts to improve nutrition and access at Healthy Food.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Here is Oregon - hereisoregon.com.
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