Texas couple opens store to end 82-mile grocery trips
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In Matador, Texas, Chris and Vanessa Paul opened Paul’s Neighborhood Market to provide fresh produce to a community left without a grocery store.
The town’s only market, Lowe’s, planned to close in 2025, creating a food desert where residents faced long drives for basic necessities. People traveled as far as 82 miles one way to reach stores in Lubbock, and even the closer store in Floydada was 39 miles away.
Before starting their own store, the Pauls hoped another business would purchase the abandoned Lowe’s, but when that didn’t happen, they decided to address the problem themselves. The lack of a local grocery store created financial and safety issues for Matador residents. High gas prices and limited access to vehicles made it difficult for some community members to make the lengthy trips. Additionally, older residents and those concerned about traffic from industrial plants expressed anxieties about driving on highways.
The Pauls believe their market is essential for the town’s survival, ensuring people have a reason to stay and supporting the community’s future. Other communities are also finding ways to increase local food access through farmers markets, food pantries, and community gardens.
