In a corner of East Knoxville where fresh food has been a rare sight, Pastor Chris Battle is working on a brick-and-mortar solution. The founder of BattleField Farms & Gardens is planning a full-service grocery store in the 37915 ZIP code, a neighborhood long flagged for its lack of a nearby supermarket. The project, called The ONE FIVE, is designed to stock deeply discounted staples and fresh produce while tying the farm’s local crops directly to store shelves. Battle’s team says the market will be operated by BattleField Farms and tailored to residents who have dealt with limited access to healthy food, expanding on the farm’s community programs and creating a permanent place to buy fresh groceries.
What The One Five Will Look Like
According to BattleField Farms & Gardens, The ONE FIVE takes its name from the 37915 ZIP code and aims to “turn scarcity into sustainability” by keeping prices low and markups modest. The plan is to reclaim a former Dollar General and turn it into a full-service neighborhood market with fresh produce, pantry essentials and prepared foods under one roof. Commercial records list the site at 2265 McCalla Ave as a retail building in the 37915 area, which the project intends to repurpose, according to LoopNet.
Why 37915 Needs It
Local garden and food-access advocates say the 37915 area has wrestled with high poverty rates and scarce supermarket options for years, leaving many neighbors relying on convenience stores and dollar outlets for day-to-day groceries. The Knox County Community Garden & Growers Alliance tracks food-security efforts and points to organizations like BattleField Farm as filling critical gaps in fresh-food access across East Knoxville. Those assessments have repeatedly identified the Five Points and 37915 area as underserved by full-service grocers, a gap organizers say The ONE FIVE is intended to help close, according to Knox County Community Garden & Growers Alliance.
Timeline and Community Support
The project has already started drawing attention and backing around the city. The Knoxville News Sentinel featured a photo gallery on The ONE FIVE and reported that BattleField Farm hosted a fundraising luncheon to help pay for the building’s conversion. The coverage also pointed to nearby community gardens, including the Chestnut Street site near Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, as part of a broader neighborhood food network. City officials and partners have signaled support too: city staffer Kevin DuBose said crews have “officially broken ground” on the vision and called the store “about more than shelves and checkout lines,” according to Kevin DuBose (LinkedIn).
What Comes Next
For now, the heavy lift is fundraising and buildout, and organizers say a firm opening date has not yet been set. The BattleField Farms & Gardens website invites donations and describes The ONE FIVE as “a community commitment to dignity, access, health, and hope” as the former retail space is transformed into a neighborhood market. Supporters say the store could create jobs, strengthen local food supply chains and finally give East Knoxville residents a reliable, nearby place to buy fresh groceries.
