COLUMBUS, Ohio A Central Ohio farming family is working to bring a long-requested grocery store to German Village, aiming to fill what many residents describe as a persistent gap in one of the city’s most walkable neighborhoods.
WIT Farm, a family-run operation known for supplying pasture-raised meats to customers in Columbus, is planning to open a neighborhood grocery shop called The Farmer’s Larder.
If successful, the store would offer locally sourced food and everyday essentials in an area where residents have long said options are limited.
A Neighborhood Asking for a Grocery Store
For years, German Village residents have voiced the same concern in neighborhood forums and social media: the lack of a full-service grocery store.
“All I see … is, ‘We need a grocery store, we need a convenience store,’” said Jamie Pritchard of WIT Farm.
That demand intensified after the closure of Chapman’s Eat Market, a restaurant the farm previously supplied.
Pritchard said the closure highlighted an opportunity to create a space focused on fresh, local food.
From Farmers Market Roots to Storefront Vision
WIT Farm is operated by Jamie and Kyle Pritchard, who raise beef, pork, and poultry on pasture in Central Ohio.
The name “WIT” stands for “Whatever It Takes,” a phrase Kyle brought from his time in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Jamie Pritchard has been a vendor at the German Village Farmers Market for more than eight years, building relationships with customers and becoming a familiar presence in the community.
“I have had the pleasure of watching families grow up,” she said, noting some children were introduced to solid foods through the farm’s products.
What The Farmer’s Larder Would Offer
The proposed shop would focus heavily on local sourcing, with Pritchard estimating a mix of roughly 90% local products and 10% specialty grocery items.
Plans include Fresh, seasonal produce, Locally raised meats and dairy, Baked goods and pantry staples and Grab-and-go prepared meals like salads, pastas, and sauces.
Pritchard said the store would also emphasize education — helping customers learn how to cook with locally sourced ingredients and connect with regional producers.
Part of a Broader Local Food Movement
The concept reflects a wider shift across Central Ohio toward small-scale, locally focused food markets.
Similar models have emerged in surrounding communities, including neighborhood farm markets and specialty grocers that prioritize regional sourcing and direct relationships with producers.
German Village, known for its walkability and strong neighborhood identity, has long been seen as a natural fit for that model.
“Nowhere else has the same feeling,” Pritchard said. “And I want to keep serving my German Village customers in the best ways possible.”
A location for The Farmer’s Larder has not yet been finalized, and funding is still being secured, though Pritchard said multiple local vendors have already expressed interest in participating.
For a neighborhood that has spent years asking for a grocery option, the project represents one of the most concrete efforts yet to bring that vision to life.
Disclaimer: Plans for The Farmer’s Larder are still in development. Details, including location, funding, and timeline, may change as the project moves forward.