The Sherman Park Grocery

When something needs to be fixed in a neighborhood, it’s usually the residents who step up. It was July 2022 when Maurice “Moe” Wince and his wife, Yashica Spears, opened Wisconsin’s only Black-owned full-service grocery store, Sherman Park Grocery Store. Three years later, the establishment provides a space to buy fresh groceries in a city that has been depleted of grocery stores.

Milwaukee is known as a food desert, so the Sherman Park Grocery is giving away $10,000 worth of free fruits and vegetables on July 26, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. CST, located at 4315 West Fond du Lac Ave. This event marks the business’s three-year anniversary celebration.

With around 40,000 residents in the Sherman Park area, Wince understands the importance of his business.

“We’re not here for us. We’re here for the community,” said Wince.

Along with providing fresh groceries, Sherman Park Grocery partners with local organizations to bring more resources to the community. On July 10, 2025, Alverno College nursing students provided blood pressure screenings and health information to residents.

“Our grocery store isn’t just a grocery store; we’ve become a part of the community,” said Wince. “We’re curtailing food insecurity.”

Milwaukee’s Newest Running Group

Healthy food is a must to live a healthy lifestyle, but it doesn’t stop there. Being healthy also involves proper exercise. Milwaukee native Nateya Taylor started the grassroots organization Run Black and Green in January of this year to promote wellness in the Black community.

Run Black and Green is a running/walking group in Milwaukee. Although there are similar groups in Milwaukee like the locally known FEAR MKE, Taylor wanted to create something that allowed Black people to exercise close to home.

“I want to see more Black people running in their neighborhoods,” said Taylor.

Run Black and Green organizes its walks and runs around supporting local businesses. The next community event is at the Sherman Park Grocery’s free grocery giveaway. Taylor said Wince wanted to see more people at his grocery store, so she decided it was only right to focus on his business.

“A lot of these people have to travel to get their food…it’s important for people to have close proximity to fresh food,” said Taylor.

She also said it’s about bringing awareness to a grocery store in a food desert.

“[We’re] making sure they’re patronizing places like Sherman Park Grocery Store,” said Taylor.

A Call for Support

Wince may be a man of the community, but he’s also a business owner. He stated to Carvd N Stone that he needs more support from the community.

As a small-owned grocery store at just 2,300 sq. ft., Wince says his store doesn’t have everything, but consider buying what you can from his store. He acknowledged his prices are slightly higher since he can’t buy in bulk like chain stores, but said the more people shop, the more he can stock.

The Sherman Park Grocery is also looking for more local vendors to host their products in-store. Wince said they are willing to help entrepreneurs get store-ready, no matter what stage they’re at.

“It really takes us supporting one another in our small enterprise business stages to keep our doors open,” said Wince.

To donate to the Sherman Park Grocery, click here.