Anabel’s Grocery Store: Not your typical grocery store
On February 15, 2023, Anabel’s grocery store opened for the first time this year. A student-run nonprofit organization, Anabel focuses on not only providing affordable food to Cornellians, but also building community around food justice. Graduate students taking or completing AEM 3385 regularly plan events and initiate initiatives that benefit customers. From collaborations with downtown charities to cooking classes, there’s a lot more going on outside of a typical grocery store than just selling food, making Anabel’s a unique social enterprise on campus. With so many projects underway, we can only wait to see what the staff will be up to for the rest of this semester.
Within the first month of its opening, Anabel’s achieved many milestones. On March 5, the Joint Education Committee hosted a community Toast-A-Thon with Prisoner Express at the Durland Alternative Library. Prisoner Express is an organization that spreads hope among people in prison through poetry, art and writing programs. Participants delivered letters and book packages to those in need and enjoyed bread provided by Wide Awake, a local Ithaca bakery dedicated to sustainability and community support.
Another very recent event hosted by Anabel’s staff was a cooking demonstration on the afternoon of Saturday 11th March. At 660 Stewart Ave., the staff taught attendees how to prepare a vegetable lentil coconut curry using only store-bought ingredients. Expect more free demos in the future. Response links to these stories are posted on Anabel’s Instagram page
In addition to classes, the shop has other ways to learn cooking skills. Weekly recipes are printed and available to all registries when they are posted on Anabel’s website. From overnight oats to vegan mac and cheese, there’s a lot to learn when all the ingredients are stored right here. The store also has weekly meal kits; the stocked product helps encourage students to incorporate new foods into their lives while working toward balanced diets. New dishes are offered every Wednesday.
Looking ahead, it’s a big week for Anabel, with the annual Giveaway coming up on Thursday 16th March. Employees are preparing a phone call to raise funds for the store. This is a great opportunity to donate online and support the organization’s mission. The next day, March 17th, at 6:30 p.m., the Global Learning Association office dinner will be held. The event will focus on international cuisine and other groups besides Anabel will be cooking for the night. Future community lunches are being planned by the staff, including one that may be held with the Botanic Gardens.
With many new students joining the staff this semester, the increased number of events will further bring the Anabel community together. Prisoner Express and in-store volunteer Elinor Belhman ’26 says of her time at the facility so far, “I’ve enjoyed getting to know everyone who works at Anabel. It’s definitely a place that brings people together and has a strong sense of community.” said Elinor. Meanwhile, new employee Ishani Chopra ’24 appreciates the hours she’s spent at the store: “It’s fun to see how well Anabel does without the hierarchy. It takes effort and communication from everyone, and together we strive to make Anabel better for our customers and for the future students who work there,” said Ishani.
Ishani, along with many others, closely associates Anabel with her special environment and volunteer team. Open Wednesday and Friday 12-7pm and Saturday 12-3pm, the shop can be found in Anabel Taylor Hall. Dr. Anke Wessels, who both teaches and supervises Anabel’s class, is excited about the shop’s progress so far: “Anabel has had a great start this semester! Since opening on February 15th, we have served more than 1,700 customers, which is 500 more than last year. The number of transactions using SNAP/EBT has tripled since last year. The most popular items sold are eggs, Bread from Wide Awake Bakery and various fruits and vegetables at very low prices. We are a valuable resource for all Cornell students, making it easier for them to get basic groceries while saving them time and money.”
In addition to the resources and opportunities this organization creates, Anabel’s Grocery is valued for the connections it creates among students. I think junior Lauren Mukaigawa ’24 says it best when describing her Anabel experience so far: “Working at Anabel has opened my eyes to the impact it has beyond the store itself. It’s exciting to see our relationships develop with local co-ops, vendors and campus organizations.” With most of the semester still to go, it’s exciting to imagine what surprises Anabel’s staff has in store for Cornell. Time and time again, the group continues to unite the university around the common goal of distributing quality, affordable food.
Kyra Walter is a freshman in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. You can contact him [email protected]