Mother-daughter duo fulfill dream of opening Henrico grocery store

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- A mother-daughter duo will fulfill their dream of owning a grocery store when they open Darrell's Family Supermarket next month in Henrico County.

Tyra Gallagher and Renee Thompson True-Hart said the grocery store location, on the corner of Azalea Avenue and Richmond-Henrico Turnpike in Henrico County, has been a staple for their family for decades.

"My grandmother never drove and as soon as I was able to drive," Gallagher recalled. "She would be like, 'Tyra, take me.' She called it the top of the hill, so that she could go to the grocery store."

Both Gallager and Thompson True-Hart said the new family adventure means everything to them. After three years of unsuccessfully bidding for the location, it finally opened up.

"About a month ago, I come by here I said, 'The grocery store is open.' I called him and said, 'Look now, I want this grocery store.' He said, 'You're in luck,'" Thompson True- Hart said.

"It's nothing any of us have done before, so we're learning and we're doing it in the middle of the pandemic," Gallager said. "And I say, 'Why not?' Because at the end of the day people need groceries," Gallager said.

To make things even more special, the family-owned supermarket was named after Renee's brother, who recently passed away.

"He and I were very close... [He] meant everything to me," Thompson True-Hart said.

Their journey blew up on social media, with thousands of shares and retweets.

In fact, Gallagher said her Tik tok even made it across the water to supporters in Switzerland and the UK with folks asking how they could help.

Gallagher and Thompson True-Hart said the opening could not have come at a better time to help serve those in the community who have a hard time getting fresh produce.

"Here there's literally nothing -- and it's a population where a lot of people don't drive," Gallagher said. "I work right up the street at a dialysis unit and those are challenges we face with our population."

Both are hoping when they open their doors, they will help make a difference with quality food and service.

"To be able to be a staple to this community once again [is our goal]," Gallagher said. "They can expect a smiling face behind a mask. You can see it in our eyes."

Darrell's Family Supermarket is slated to open Saturday, Dec. 12.

For more information, click here for the store's Facebook page.

If you would like to help in supporting the store,click here.