Parramore Market opens as a free choose-your-own grocery in Parramore, with new registrations on a waitlist

Register before you go, and expect to wait. The Desire Foundation's page says "all new registrations are currently placed on a waitlist" and "Please do not visit the market until you hear from us." The market, at 536 N. Westmoreland Drive, Suite 105, is "a community micro-grocery where registered individuals and families can select groceries at no cost."

What changed

• A store in place of a pantry line. News 6 reported: "Gone is the traditional food pantry line at one Parramore nonprofit." The Desire Foundation "has replaced its traditional food pantry with the market, allowing community members to choose their own groceries rather than receiving a pre-packed box."
• Free for registered shoppers. The Foundation's page says registered shoppers "select groceries at no cost". It also describes the market as combining "free food access, affordable groceries, health-focused initiatives, and wraparound support under one roof".

When

• Open by Oct. 27, 2026. News 6 reported the market "officially open" in a story published Oct. 27, 2026. Orlando Weekly wrote on Nov. 3 that it "officially opened its doors last week".
• No saved source gives the date of the ribbon-cutting.
• Days and hours, per the Foundation: Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., "for registered seniors ages 60 and older only", and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., "for all other registered individuals and families."

Where

• 536 N. Westmoreland Drive, Suite 105, Orlando 32805. News 6 places it "in the heart of Orlando’s Parramore neighborhood".
• Parking: "Park in the designated area on Givens Street. Please do not park on Westmoreland Drive or block driveways, business entrances or traffic."

What it means if you live here

• Who can shop: the sources differ. The Foundation's page, the operator's own, read Nov. 7, says "Parramore Market is open to Orange County residents only. You must register before shopping."
• What the outlets reported at opening: News 6 wrote "Shopping at Parramore Market is free for all Central Florida residents." Orlando Weekly reported "the market is open to all Central Florida residents."
• How often: the sources differ too. The Foundation's page says "Each household may shop once every 14 days." News 6 reported a market card "which allows them to visit the market twice a month", and Orlando Weekly "two visits per month".
• When you go: "When you arrive, our staff and volunteers will give you a shopping number. Please wait in your vehicle until we call you." "Parramore Market does not provide grocery bags."
• To give food: "Donation drop-offs are welcome Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM."
• The Foundation's page carries no date, so it does not say when the waitlist began.