Sacramento store owners bring fresh food, opportunity to Arden-Arcade

In a Sacramento neighborhood once considered a food desert, fresh produce now fills the aisles — and with it, a renewed sense of possibility.As KCRA 3 continues its Black History Month coverage, we’re highlighting two local business owners whose journey to grocery store ownership was rooted in faith, perseverance, and a commitment to give back to the community they serve.Keith and Phyllis Johnson are the owners of a new Grocery Outlet on Fulton Avenue in Sacramento’s Arden-Arcade area. For them, the store represents far more than a business — it’s the fulfillment of a decades-long dream that began thousands of miles away.“I started in this business at 18 years old, working for a local Black chain back in Tennessee,” Keith Johnson said. “They taught me the business as I grew and got more experience in it, I saw that, ‘Hey, I can do this on my own.’”Keith grew up in Memphis, surrounded by family, mentors, and educators who instilled in him early on that anything was possible. But the path to ownership wasn’t easy.“In this business, you feel like sometimes you get passed over when you know you have the experience and the passion,” he said. “You look over and say, ‘Wow, why did that happen?’”Rather than letting rejection discourage him, Keith used it as motivation.Today, Keith and his wife — and high school sweetheart — Phyllis are the only African American owners of a Grocery Outlet in Sacramento. It’s a distinction they carry with pride and purpose.“We’ve had people come in with their kids and point to our picture on the wall and say, ‘This is a Black-owned grocery store. This could be you,’” Phyllis Johnson said. “That’s something we don’t take lightly.”Phyllis manages the business behind the scenes while Keith oversees the store floor. Together, they intentionally chose this location to bring affordable, healthy food options to a community that has long lacked access.“We wanted to bring fresh produce, natural foods here,” Phyllis said. “And we also wanted to bring economic prosperity to this neighborhood.”That commitment goes beyond food. The Johnsons hired most of their staff from the surrounding community, creating jobs and fostering a sense of ownership that extends well beyond the checkout line.“We’re here to give back,” Keith said. “Not just to bring customers in to buy groceries — we want to be a part of this community.”The Johnsons’ story is a reminder that Black history isn’t just remembered — it’s built. One aisle, one opportunity, and one dream at a time.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

In a Sacramento neighborhood once considered a food desert, fresh produce now fills the aisles — and with it, a renewed sense of possibility.

As KCRA 3 continues its Black History Month coverage, we’re highlighting two local business owners whose journey to grocery store ownership was rooted in faith, perseverance, and a commitment to give back to the community they serve.

Keith and Phyllis Johnson are the owners of a new Grocery Outlet on Fulton Avenue in Sacramento’s Arden-Arcade area.

For them, the store represents far more than a business — it’s the fulfillment of a decades-long dream that began thousands of miles away.

“I started in this business at 18 years old, working for a local Black chain back in Tennessee,” Keith Johnson said. “They taught me the business as I grew and got more experience in it, I saw that, ‘Hey, I can do this on my own.’”

Keith grew up in Memphis, surrounded by family, mentors, and educators who instilled in him early on that anything was possible.

But the path to ownership wasn’t easy.

“In this business, you feel like sometimes you get passed over when you know you have the experience and the passion,” he said. “You look over and say, ‘Wow, why did that happen?’”

Rather than letting rejection discourage him, Keith used it as motivation.

Today, Keith and his wife — and high school sweetheart — Phyllis are the only African American owners of a Grocery Outlet in Sacramento. It’s a distinction they carry with pride and purpose.

“We’ve had people come in with their kids and point to our picture on the wall and say, ‘This is a Black-owned grocery store. This could be you,’” Phyllis Johnson said. “That’s something we don’t take lightly.”

Phyllis manages the business behind the scenes while Keith oversees the store floor.

Together, they intentionally chose this location to bring affordable, healthy food options to a community that has long lacked access.

“We wanted to bring fresh produce, natural foods here,” Phyllis said. “And we also wanted to bring economic prosperity to this neighborhood.”

That commitment goes beyond food.

The Johnsons hired most of their staff from the surrounding community, creating jobs and fostering a sense of ownership that extends well beyond the checkout line.

“We’re here to give back,” Keith said. “Not just to bring customers in to buy groceries — we want to be a part of this community.”

The Johnsons’ story is a reminder that Black history isn’t just remembered — it’s built. One aisle, one opportunity, and one dream at a time.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel