Milwaukee, WI
Grocery store closures impact Milwaukee residents
MILWAUKEE — For many Milwaukee residents, it may become increasingly difficult to find access to fresh food.
Jonathan Hansen is the chief strategy officer for Hunger Task Force, a free, local food bank in Milwaukee. Hansen said Hunger Task Force has noticed a significant increase of need from the community.
“Everyone is feeling that pinch right now,” said Hansen. “Particularly families who are struggling with unemployment.”
He said grocery store chains scaling back and closing some locations makes it even harder.
The most recent store closure was on Jan. 11, when the Aldi on North Sherman Boulevard closed. A spokesperson with Aldi said the closure “is a part of a strategic effort to better allocate resources and continue providing a high-quality shopping experience at our nearby stores.”
Aldi also announced it’s opening 180 new stores across 31 states in 2026.
Milwuakee Alderwoman Andrea Pratt issued the following statement in light of the Aldi closure, saying, in-part:
“The closing is disappointing and will make it more difficult for many regular customers – especially those who do not have access to a vehicle – to obtain their groceries and other critical items.
“Additionally, it is just the latest development in a trend of recent divestment from neighborhoods where there are already few fresh food resources available to residents. Therecent closures of Pick ‘n Save stores nearby (35th and North and on Silver Spring Dr. in Glendale) are making it so that residents must travel significantly farther to secure their food, necessities, and medications.
“I will be working closely with city staff and our local business community to see what we can do to attract new grocery outlets to the 1st District and the north side.”
Hansen said there’s options for residents in who are unable to travel far for groceries. The Hunger Task Force Mobile Market travels Monday through Friday throughout the county where residents have limited access to fresh and healthy foods.
“We see the instance of a grocery store closing or we see a neighborhood overtime that lost resources to healthy foods or to a grocery store,” said Hansen. “We’re able to pivot and send the market to those neighborhoods to help to address needs.”
The closest mobile market to the closed Aldi on North Sherman Boulevard is at Meinecke Plaza. The market will be there the first Monday of every month at 4 p.m.
The African American Roundtable is also fighting food insecurity through a campaign it’s launching this spring. Ryeshia Farmer said this will benefit the northwest side of Milwaukee.
“We really want to get the city’s decision makers, the Common Council, the mayor, to invest in food access for our residents,” said Farmer. “We want them to take up responsibility to prioritize through the city budget.”
Both Farmer and Hansen said it’s important for residents to know they’re not alone.
“We want people to have the same shopping experience that anyone wants in the grocery store and to be able to afford foods,” said Hansen.
RACINE — Members of Racine’s Greek community are processing the news of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s trade from the Milwaukee Bucks — and the timing hits especially hard, just days before Greek Fest at Kimissis Greek Orthodox Church.
Tents are going up in the parking lot, rides are being assembled, and the kitchen is already busy with preparations for the annual celebration of Greek culture in Racine. But amid the excitement, the news of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s trade from the Milwaukee Bucks is on the minds of some church members.
Joyce Muffoletto, secretary at Kimissis tid Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church in Racine, said the news took some of the joy out of her Tuesday.
Watch: Racine’s Greek community discusses what Giannis meant to them:
Racine’s Greek community reflects on Giannis’ celebration of Greek culture
“Yeah, that puts a damper on everything,” Muffoletto said.
Giannis, who was born and raised in Athens, Greece, earned the nickname “the Greek Freak” during his time with the Bucks. For Muffoletto, his Greek heritage made her a fan.
“Oh, of course,” she said with a laugh.
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“I’m a pretty reserved, quiet person, but my husband had to go to a different level in the house because I’d be screaming at the TV when he was playing, you know, I’d be like, ‘Giannis! Giannis!’” Muffoletto said.
While Muffoletto made it to multiple Greek night games with the Bucks, she said what she will miss most goes beyond Giannis’s performance on the court.
“It’ll be hard to replace him. And more than him the player, kind of, him the person,” said Muffoletto, referring to the impact Giannis had on the Milwaukee community.
Church member Mary Luccas said she is not a big basketball fan, but she holds Giannis in high regard for the values he represents.
“We will be sad to lose that, but he set a really good foundation going forward,” Luccas said. “And he will be doing the same thing wherever he goes, because it’s just the quality of person that he is.”
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Luccas said Giannis and his family have embodied Greek values throughout his time in Wisconsin.
“Family centered. Philoxenia. The friendship, the love. The doors are open. They welcome everybody,” Luccas said.
“He embraces the Greek culture, like we embrace the Greek culture. And he celebrates Greece and his Greek culture,” Luccas said. “So wherever he is, it will be a celebration of his Greek heritage.”
And while the loyalty to the Bucks remains, Muffoletto acknowledged the bittersweet reality.
“I’ll be loyal, but it’s a bit of a loss,” Muffoletto said.
Racine’s Greek Fest runs Friday through Sunday at 1335 S. Green Bay Road.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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MILWAUKEE — Fans in Milwaukee are waking up to the news that Giannis Antetokounmpo has been traded, ending a 13-year run with the Bucks that included a championship in 2021.
The news of the trade broke late last night, and fans have mixed emotions about the move.
Before the trade happened, TMJ4 spoke with fans in Milwaukee about what they wanted to see happen.
Some fans were focused on what the Bucks could get in return.
Alonna Johnson
“If he gets traded, we get like some valuable pieces for him at least. I don’t want Bam Adebayo. I want Tyler Herro because he’s from Milwaukee so you know he’s a hooper they can keep bound,” Khorey said.
Others acknowledged Antetokounmpo’s impact even without following the sport closely.
Alonna Johnson
“I’m not a basketball fan myself but I know who Giannis is. And that says someone whose background is theater. We got a championship from him,” Halana said.
A mural created in honor of Antetokounmpo’s achievements on and off the court now stands as a reminder of his legacy in the city.
For those who predicted Antetokounmpo could be traded — they were correct.
Alonna Johnson
“I don’t like to see him get traded. I don’t like that. But the franchise is not big enough. Giannis needs to move in another direction,” Scheila said.
Not everyone was ready to accept the change.
Alonna Johnson
“Not saying that there’s anything wrong with anybody else, but Giannis is like the Bucks. So I would prefer if he didn’t because it’s just going to be weird. And then it’s like, who can follow in those big old footsteps,” Nariah said.
We’ll continue to bring you updates on the trade on-air and online.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
Let’s talk:
Hey there! At TMJ4 News, we’re all about listening to our audience and tackling the stuff that really matters to you. Got a story idea, tip, or just want to chat about this piece? Hit us up using the form below. For more ways to get in touch, head over to tmj4.com/tips.
It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.
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Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip
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