Buildings around Madison are constantly being repurposed, but it’s not often you see a strip club transform into a grocery store. So, how did a two-story establishment at the corner of E. Washington and Schmedeman avenues go from Madison’s last strip club to a grocery store?
Serving a Community in Need
The term “food desert,” or “food apartheid,” as many advocates prefer, refers to an area with a population of low-income residents with limited access to healthy and affordable foods. Madison’s east side has historically fallen into that category, with few options beyond fast food, and small convenience stores.
When Visions Night Club shuttered in 2020, Samba Baldeh, who represents District 48 in the State Assembly, and engineer and entrepreneur Jerreh Kujabi saw an opportunity to open a grocery store in its place. With funding assistance from two city programs — and a few construction delays — Gooh Grocery opened in January 2024.
International Influence
Both Baldeh and Kujabi were born in The Gambia in West Africa, which influenced many parts of the store. The word Gooh (pronounced “go-oh”) means “the one” in Fulani, one of the languages spoken in the region. The store also features many international items that were once hard to find in Madison.
The City Cast Madison podcast spoke to Baldeh and Kujabi about the journey of Gooh Grocery and how they’re working to incorporate accessible housing into the concept.
