A new hybrid grocery and art spot called Aveneu is slated to open in June on Mt. Vernon Avenue in Columbus' King-Lincoln Bronzeville, aiming to stock pantry basics and showcase neighborhood talent under one roof. The concept, led by entrepreneur and artist Azubuike Akunne, will blend a compact selection of staples with rotating exhibitions by local creatives. Akunne says the shop is designed to boost access to fresh, affordable food in a stretch of the Near East Side that has long carried the “food desert” label. The storefront will move into the former Phillip’s Pharmacy space on Mt. Vernon.
Owner frames it as a community-first market
Akunne has described Aveneu as a market built explicitly with the Near East Side in mind, with a focus on healthier choices and a reason for neighbors to stop in even when they are not shopping. As reported by The Columbus Dispatch, Aveneu will stock basic groceries alongside a structured art program intended to draw people through the doors and support local artists. The Dispatch notes that the shop’s pantry staples will share space with a rotating gallery overseen by Akunne.
Built on family history on Mt. Vernon
The project is also personal. Aveneu is moving into the same Mt. Vernon address where Phillip’s Pharmacy operated for decades under Akunne’s father, and Akunne now controls the 1017-1021 Mt. Vernon Avenue building, which has room for additional retail and future housing. As reported by Columbus Underground, Aveneu is being set up as a nonprofit, and Akunne has already submitted a certificate of occupancy and a food-license plan as part of the buildout. He told the outlet that he is targeting a June opening, pending permit approvals.
What shoppers will find
Aveneu is not trying to be a full-scale supermarket, but rather a small, curated market that leans on fresh produce, local products, and everyday staples instead of aisles of ultra-processed snacks. The Columbus Dispatch notes that bread, milk and eggs are among the basics Aveneu plans to carry, and reports that Akunne hopes to partner with nearby vendors such as Yawning Bear Bread. Organizers say the art gallery component will feature rotating shows, keeping the storefront active and giving neighbors a reason to linger beyond a quick grocery run.
Why it matters
Aveneu sits at the intersection of two big local conversations: how to make fresh food easier to reach and how to support community-based arts. The project lines up with other efforts that pair cultural programming with concrete steps to address food access. Local arts coverage and past profiles of Akunne describe how he has used his artwork to explore food deserts and has pursued tech tools related to SNAP and EBT access, which frames Aveneu as both a civic experiment and a cultural platform rather than just a corner market. For more on Akunne’s work connecting food systems and creative practice, see Urban Arts Space.
Timeline and next steps
Akunne has filed the required paperwork and says a soft opening is the goal once inspectors give the green light, and neighbors, along with small-business advocates, are watching to see how the idea plays out once doors open. Columbus Underground reports that he plans to quickly develop partnerships with community organizations to help shape programming and sourcing. If permits land on time, Aveneu could emerge as one of the few fresh-food anchors on Mt. Vernon this summer.
