Chicago Entrepreneur Launches Forty Acres Grocery Store to Feed Community and Bridge Food Access Gaps

Chicago Innovator Brings Forty Acres Grocery Store to Community Food Desert

Chicago native and entrepreneur Khalil Khalfani has opened Forty Acres Grocery, a full-service grocery store in a neighborhood historically plagued by limited access to fresh foods. The store is designed not just as a retail space, but as a hub for community nourishment, economic opportunity, and food equity — responding directly to years of food access disparities in underserved areas.

Named as a nod to the promise of “40 acres and a mule” — a phrase rooted in historic discussions about reparative land grants for formerly enslaved people — Forty Acres aims to build generational wealth while offering healthy, affordable options in a community that had long lacked them. Khalfani’s vision goes beyond a traditional grocery model, emphasizing community engagement, education, and collaboration with local partners.

Addressing Food Insecurity with Local Investment

Food deserts — areas where residents lack convenient access to affordable and nutritious food — have been a persistent problem in many U.S. cities, including parts of Chicago. Khalfani recognized that traditional grocery retailers often overlook these neighborhoods due to perceived financial risk. So he chose to invest in solutions grounded in community needs, creating a business that marries profitability with purpose.

Forty Acres carries fresh produce, proteins, pantry essentials, and culturally relevant foods, while also offering programs and partnerships aimed at health education, food literacy, and economic empowerment. By keeping prices competitive and championing local suppliers, the store hopes to be both sustainable and impactful.

Community, Culture & Economic Development

Khalfani’s initiative reflects a larger movement in urban entrepreneurship: investing in underserved areas to foster economic growth, health, and opportunity from within. The grocery store serves as a tangible example of how business leadership — informed by lived experience and social commitment — can create change that’s both economic and cultural.

The launch of Forty Acres has already generated local buzz, inspired civic pride, and shown how Black entrepreneurship can directly address social challenges through innovative business models.