"In 2003, Abdo Nasser and his family found themselves on Treasure Island on an uncharacteristically warm San Francisco day. There as tourists, Nasser and his family grew thirsty and searched for a grocery store. However, as they roamed, it became clear there were none. "My wife and I and the kids needed water - it was a hot day," Nasser said in a recent interview. "There was no water, no snacks, nothing.""
"Nasser saw an opportunity and approached the Treasure Island Development Authority board of directors. He was told that no long-term lease would be available, since big real estate development projects on the island were imminent. It wasn't until 2008, Nasser said, that he was given a 600-square-foot "shack" by the lone road connecting the island to the mainland via the Bay Bridge."
During a 2003 visit, Abdo Nasser and his family discovered Treasure Island lacked basic retail such as water and snacks. Geographic isolation and the absence of a retail ecosystem left residents without supermarkets despite large redevelopment plans. Nasser obtained a 600-square-foot "shack" in 2008, expanded to 3,000 square feet in 2012, and opened the current Treasure Island Cove location in 2016, which remains the island's only grocery. A 2021 survey found 10% of residents experience food insecurity, and the U.S. Census shows 38% live below the poverty line. Contributing factors include limited retail infrastructure, constrained transit access, and a history of neglect.
Read at San Francisco Public Press
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