Charleston City Council Approves Transition of Former Save A Lot Property to Mountaineer Food Bank

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — During this evening’s meeting, Charleston City Council approved a novation agreement to transition 748 Virginia Street West, the former Save A Lot building, to Mountaineer Food Bank. The agreement transfers the property to Mountaineer Food Bank and provides a path forward for the ARPA-funded project, including $440,000 in federal funding already invested in the property.  
 
“We have the opportunity to put this property to use in a way that can benefit the West Side and our broader community,” said Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin. “Mountaineer Food Bank brings decades of experience and resources to that work. Their volunteer center gives this facility an immediate purpose, while their commitment to listening to the neighborhood and working alongside organizations already serving the West Side will help shape what comes next.” 
 
The first planned use of the property is a new Mountaineer Food Bank Volunteer Center, where volunteers will help prepare and pack food for distribution through Mountaineer Food Bank’s network of partner agencies. The new space will expand volunteer capacity, allowing more food to be prepared for distribution and ultimately reach more people and communities. 

We are deeply excited about this opportunity to better serve the Kanawha Valley and become part of Charleston's West Side community,” said Chad Morrison, CEO of Mountaineer Food Bank. “For 45 years, Mountaineer Food Bank has fought food insecurity in Kanawha County and now we have a chance to call part of it home. We look forward to transforming the building into a space for exceptional volunteer experiences as well as co-creating the rest of the space with community members to ensure community needs are at the heart of what we are making and no one goes to bed hungry.” 
 
Mountaineer Food Bank currently works with approximately 35–40 partner agencies in Kanawha County, including Covenant House, Step by Step, and A More Excellent Way. 

While the broader concept for the property is still developing, Mountaineer Food Bank intends to engage West Side agencies, community leaders and residents to help identify needs, gaps and opportunities that could shape future uses of the property. The goal is to complement and strengthen the work already happening in the community—not replace or duplicate services provided by existing food pantries or other organizations.  
 
The Charleston facility will be an expansion of Mountaineer Food Bank’s presence, not a relocation of its statewide distribution operation. That operation will remain in Gassaway and continue serving 48 counties. 
   
The organization originally selected to carry out the ARPA-funded project, PAAC, was no longer positioned to complete it within federal requirements and timelines, according to the City’s outside ARPA consultant.  Transitioning the project to Mountaineer Food Bank provides that path forward, allowing the City to preserve the existing federal investment while moving the property toward productive community use. 

Based on guidance from the City’s outside ARPA consultant, the project must demonstrate progress towards rehabilitation of the property by the end of 2026. The immediate focus will be completing the cleanout, beginning necessary building improvements and beginning work to establish the Volunteer Center so Mountaineer Food Bank can begin putting the property to use.