Ex-Microsoft Employee Opens Chicago Grocery Store for Black Neighborhood

Elizabeth Abunaw, who was laid off from Microsoft in 2017, discovered a new purpose that has led to the establishment of Forty Acres Fresh Market, a grocery store in Chicago. This venture, inspired by her own experience with limited access to fresh food in a predominantly Black neighborhood, aims to combat food insecurity and promote healthy living.

From Tech Layoff to Floral Entrepreneurship

Abunaw, originally from Milwaukee, WI, and raised in a single-parent household, always possessed a creative spirit. Even after finding success in tech sales and customer success management, she sought a creative outlet beyond her 9-to-5. After exploring blogging and thrifting, she found her true calling in floristry, becoming a certified florist in 2022. The following year, she launched Project 1952, a self-funded floral business dedicated to her mother, Virginia, which has since partnered with major events like the Emmys and NBA All-Star events.

Her journey into the floral industry was sparked in 2016 during a walk in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, where she realized the lack of accessible grocery stores and banks. This experience highlighted a disparity: ‘When I live in these predominantly white areas, I can find whatever I want, but now in a Black neighborhood, I can’t? It’s just harder,’ she told the Chicago Tribune. This realization, coupled with her layoff from Microsoft, fueled her mission that ‘every hood should be healthy.’

Forty Acres Fresh Market: A Community Staple

Fast forward to September 2025, Abunaw’s vision has materialized into Forty Acres Fresh Market, a Chicago storefront that accepts SNAP EBT and operates daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. In 2024, the store received $750,000 in funding to support labor and inventory, further solidifying its presence. It is reportedly the only Black woman-owned grocery store in Chicago.

Abunaw emphasized the store’s purpose: ‘Anyone can shop at Forty Acres, but make no mistake about it, I created this store as a Black woman for a Black neighborhood.’ Beyond providing access to fresh and affordable foods, the market partners with Food Smart, a tele-nutrition platform, offering shoppers nutrition guidance, recipes, and access to registered dietitians. It also assists customers with SNAP inquiries, addressing the impact of policy changes on Illinois residents.