By Okon Ekpenyong

Liberians in Columbus, Inc. (LICI) has partnered with the Mid-Ohio Food Collective (MOFC) to launch the LICI Produce Market at the Eastland Prosperity Center, a 10,000-square-foot food distribution and community hub. On June 4, 2025, LICI Board Members met with representatives from MOFC to finalize this agreement. 

The two organizations are not strangers; both are already partnering with one another on other projects, such as organizing the monthly Fresh Produce giveaways on the second Saturday of each month at the LICI Center on Kimberly Parkway. 

When Eastland Prosperity Center opens sometime in 2026, it aims to combat food insecurity in the area while promoting health equity. Additionally, the plans for redeveloping the old Eastland Mall site have instilled a sense of optimism in the local community on the Eastside of Columbus. “LICI, a reliable part of the local community since 1986, will manage day-to-day operations just a few blocks from the old Eastland Mall and continue its tradition of serving and advocating for underserved communities.”

The former Eastland Mall, located on the Eastside of Columbus between Refugee Road and Hamilton, was once a beloved shopping center that opened on February 14, 1968, and closed on December 27, 2022. Demolition work began in February 2025, with plans to transform the 999,458-square-foot mall site into a vibrant hub featuring a mix of residential, commercial properties, and community services hubs.

The mall’s four anchor stores, Lazarus, JCPenney, Sears, and Macy’s, were once a community staple. Despite the initial anxiety that followed its closure, the community has shown remarkable resilience, and recent developments offer a hopeful outlook.

The future Eastland Prosperity Center, once home to Kroger, will feature a Fresh Produce Giveaway on the fourth Saturday of each month, complementing LICI’s existing monthly giveaway. And it is exciting news because, since Kroger left the area, many have had to travel miles to get groceries. “So, this collaboration, which is also made possible by the contribution from Jewish Family Center Services, Community Development For All People, and Eastland Prosperity Market, aims to impact food insecurity, advocate for health equity, and drive regional revitalization in Southeast Columbus,” LICI said. The center will also welcome additional providers focused on health, workforce development, and social services, exemplifying the community’s strength and unity.

The redevelopment plans of the Eastland Mall (known as the Eastland For Everyone Community Plan) will revitalize the community, largely due to the significant involvement of residents. Projects like the upcoming Columbus State Community College Career Development Center, Mason Run Park, and the completion of the Big Walnut Trail are set to boost the local economy. These developments will attract new residents and visitors, enhancing the area’s overall appeal through active community participation, thanks to the City of Columbus, Department of Neighborhoods, which oversees the project. 

LICI’s legacy of service is evident in its distribution of over 200,000 pounds of fresh produce and essential household items to Central Ohio’s Liberian, immigrant, and Eastside of Columbus communities since 2019. Prior to this announcement, both organizations are already working together to organize a fresh food giveaway on the second Saturday of each month at the LICI Center, around the corner from Kimberly Parkway and Hamilton Avenue, a few blocks from the old Eastland Mall. 

This partnership between LICI and Mid-Ohio Collective, plus the future of the old Eastland Plan, now known as the Eastland for Everyone community plan, represents a substantial investment in local resources poised to expand access to healthy food and economic opportunities across multiple zip codes. As demolition of the old mall began in February 2025, the community looks forward to a brighter future, with the Eastland Prosperity Center and the plans of the old Eastland Mall set to bring new hope and opportunities.

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