WIMBLEDON, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Earlier this year it was reported that there is a decline in rural grocery stores.

According to the North Dakota Rural Electric and Telecommunications Development Center, there were 137 full-service stores in towns with 2,100 people or less. Today, there are 98 stores remaining.

One of those stores is located in Wimbledon, North Dakota. Wimbledon Community Grocery faced the same fate until residents came together to overhaul the store and keep it open.

Linda Grotberg, President of the Wimbledon Community Grocery nonprofit board, says they’ve operated the store as a non-profit for the past five years.

Grotberg says they’re now offering the Wimbledon Community Grocery and Cafe as a grant that includes lease of the fully operational grocery and cafe along with $40,000 of current inventory to be purchased for $1 by a qualified applicant.

Grotberg says they’re the only store operating as a non-profit and offering this sort of deal.

The deal also includes an efficiency apartment and the cafe. Applications are being accepted through September 30th.

For an application or more information, contact Linda Grotberg at 701-435-2464 or email lindag@daktel.com.