Justice Marbury: bringing the 19th Ward to life for the Democrat and Chronicle
Justice Marbury joins the Democrat and Chronicle as the new 19th Ward reporter, bringing a fresh perspective and dedicated coverage to one of Rochester’s most vibrant communities.
One Sunday, while Ibena Asante was in church, her pastor shared a prophecy: Someone in the congregation would open a grocery store. Asante had her heart set on the Thurston location for a balloon shop. But when she met with the real estate broker, she learned the space came with something extra—room for a market.
Asante knew what to do. She quickly learned the ins and outs of running a grocery store, and At the Cornerstone Market and Shops was born.
At the Cornerstone Market and Shops is more than just a food market. It offers fresh produce, juices, smoothies, and ready-to-go meals like soups, salads, subs, wings, and more.
About 50 community members, city officials, and representatives attended to show their support for the store’s grand opening.
“The sun may not be shining outside, but it is shining bright in here,” Deputy Mayor Michael Burns said. “May the store be a bright light for this neighborhood—a true cornerstone for years to come.”
The shop also features balloons, novelties, and gifts, and doubles as an event space for small social gatherings, photography sessions, meetings, and exercise classes.
“I’ve been in this neighborhood for 47 years now, so this is my home,” said Dana Miller, commissioner of neighborhood and business development. “We may lose other things, like the drugstores that we’re fighting for right now, but this is our neighborhood store, and it only remains our neighborhood to the extent that we find ways to support it. So we have to support it.”
The market is a step forward for the 19th Ward. Coinciding with the end of the Westside Farmers Market season, it tackles food insecurity by offering healthy options in a neighborhood dominated by convenience stores and lacking a major grocery store within walking distance for most. Tops on West Avenue is considered to be on the outskirts of the 19th Ward.
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“We’re not a neighborhood. We are a community,” Asante said. “A community grows, a community supports each other, and I already feel all the support.”
Cornerstone Market and Shops: If you go
Location: 398 Thurston Rd., Rochester, NY 14619
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9 AM-9 PM and Sunday, 10 AM- 8 PM
As a Rochester native, Justice Marbury entered the world of journalism to create work where voices like hers were heard—the voices of minority communities. Marbury covers small businesses, neighborhood concerns, and the interesting people who live in Rochester’s 19th Ward. As the 19th Ward reporter, she has helped implement community outreach ideas by asking what people in various communities want to read about themselves in addition to regular news. Contact her on Instagram @justice_marbury and by email at jmarbury@gannett.com.