The City of Greensboro is marking the end of a community-owned food store.

The board of Renaissance Community Co-op notified its 1,300 members on Wednesday that the grocery store would shut its doors by the end of the month because sales couldn’t keep up with costs.

The goal of the project was to provide jobs and fresh food in a part of Greensboro that’s been considered a food desert.

A spokesperson from the City of Greensboro said in a statement Thursday the closure of the co-op is a “tremendous loss,” but applauded its mission.

"While only open two years, the grocery store provided access to healthy food options in the heart of a food desert," they said.

City leaders also encourage residents to keep the spirit of Renaissance alive, and say that the project is an example of community collaboration that helped improve quality of life in the city.

Greensboro has been named among the hungriest cities the nation over the years, as food insecurity continues to challenge families across the region.