Nonprofit Plans Grocery Delivery Co-op in Vacant Atlantic City Building

The project aims to address food insecurity and support local entrepreneurs in the city.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 2:06pm

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A photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a collection of premium grocery items arranged elegantly on a clean, white background, conceptually representing the accessibility and affordability of nutritious food for an underserved community.A community-driven grocery co-op aims to deliver affordable, nutritious food to Atlantic City residents, addressing longstanding food insecurity issues in the city.Atlantic City Today

A nonprofit called Ideal Institute of Technology is seeking approval to turn a vacant 100-year-old building in Atlantic City into a community-owned grocery co-op that will offer delivery services to residents. The project, which has received funding from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, will also include an aquaponics farm, a 'cloud kitchen' for food entrepreneurs, and classrooms for entrepreneurship training.

Why it matters

Food insecurity has been an ongoing issue in Atlantic City, and this project aims to provide residents with better access to affordable, nutritious food. By incorporating a delivery service and supporting local food entrepreneurs, the co-op could help address the city's lack of supermarkets while also contributing to its tourism-driven economy.

The details

The four-story, 20,000-square-foot building on South Carolina Avenue was purchased by Ideal Institute for $695,000 last May, using a grant from the NJEDA. The co-op will operate a delivery-only grocery store on the first floor, an aquaponics farm to grow produce and raise fish, a 'cloud kitchen' for food entrepreneurs, and classrooms for entrepreneurship training. Customers will be able to order groceries through an app called 'Boardwalk Basket' and have them delivered by the co-op's full-time 'block captain' drivers at no charge.

  • Ideal Institute is scheduled to appear before the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority on April 16, 2026 for site plan and variance approvals.
  • Parikh expects to introduce the Boardwalk Basket app in July 2026 and begin food deliveries by the end of October 2026.

The players

Ideal Institute of Technology

A nonprofit organization based in Pleasantville, New Jersey that is spearheading the grocery co-op project in Atlantic City.

Ren Parikh

The founder of Ideal Institute of Technology and the driving force behind the grocery co-op project, which he has been considering for over 20 years.

New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA)

A state agency that provided a grant of up to $703,000 to Ideal Institute to purchase the building for the grocery co-op project.

Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA)

The authority that will review and approve Ideal Institute's site plan and variance requests for the grocery co-op project.

7 S. Carolina Associates LLC

The previous owner of the 100-year-old building that Ideal Institute purchased for the grocery co-op project.

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What’s next

Ideal Institute of Technology is scheduled to appear before the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority on April 16, 2026 to seek site plan and variance approvals for the grocery co-op project.

The takeaway

This community-driven grocery co-op project in Atlantic City has the potential to address longstanding food insecurity issues in the city, while also supporting local entrepreneurs and contributing to the city's economic development. If successful, the model could be replicated in other New Jersey cities facing similar challenges.