Ashley Linder urges Jacksonville to address a growing food desert in her neighborhood after a Popeyes closure, spotlighting the struggle for access to healthy food.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville native is calling on city leaders to address what she says is a long-standing food desert along Kings Road after another business closed, leaving residents with even fewer nearby food options.
Ashley Linder, who was born and raised on Jacksonville’s Northside, says she has watched businesses steadily disappear from her neighborhood over the years. Most recently, the Popeyes restaurant near Edward Waters University permanently closed on Jan. 19.
“Every time I drive by, I know it’s this store closing here or something is closing,” Linder said.
With the closure, Linder says residents in the area are now left with just a Dollar General and a Checkers restaurant within walking distance. She describes the neighborhood as a food desert, especially challenging for elderly residents and students at Edward Waters University who may not have reliable transportation.
“You have an HBCU there. You have a community where it’s a lot of elderly people here,” Linder said.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Northwest Jacksonville community along Kings Road is considered low income and a food desert. The USDA defines a food desert in urban areas as a community where at least 500 people live more than a mile from a full-service grocery store.
Linder says the lack of nearby grocery options creates daily hardships for residents who must rely on buses or ride-share services to buy food.
“You have to hop on a bus. You have to carry your groceries with you, or if you have money, you can get an Uber, but you still have to pay to get back,” she said. “That’s not everyone’s situation where they can necessarily spend like that.”
After learning about the Popeyes closure, Linder took her concerns to social media. A Facebook post she shared Jan. 24 received dozens of comments from people who said they have noticed the same struggles in the area.
“I just feel like if we don’t say anything, it can only get worse,” Linder said.
She has since reached out to city leaders, including multiple council members, to help organize a community meeting for residents. Linder also contacted Edward Waters University administrators, who responded by thanking her for her advocacy and saying they would be willing to participate in a future community meeting.
For Linder, the message is simple, access to healthy food shouldn’t depend on where you live.
“Let’s do something let’s take action and I feel like if we just sit along the sidelines and complain nothing will ever get done or if we just sit back and talk about it nothing will ever change so when are we actually going to talk about it and take action,” she said.
First Coast News reached out to Popeyes to ask why the Kings Road location closed and is still waiting for a response. Online records show the company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Linder says she has also contacted Jacksonville City Councilman Jimmy Peluso. First Coast News plans to meet with him Monday to discuss the issue and potential solutions. First Coast News will continue to follow the story as more information becomes available.
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