CHESTER, Pa. (CBS) – The hopes are to open America’s first non-profit grocery store next Spring in Chester.

Work begins shortly to convert an abandoned building and a Family Dollar near 9th and Trainer Streets into Fare and Square, the first grocery store in Chester in more than a decade.

Bill Clark, Executive Director of Philabundance

It’ll be run by the hunger relief group Philabundance. This has been a long time dream for Executive Director Bill Clark.

“The dreaming is becoming a reality,” he said. “The plans have been written. The layouts have been drawn. Funds have been raised.  Contracts have been signed and the tradesmen are about to arrive.”

The group has found 35 of what it calls “food deserts” throughout the area, where poor residents have a hard time buying the basics at a price they can afford.

This store aims to address both need and cost, in part, through a free membership program. If this works, the concept could spread to other locations in the region.