Bashas’ expands Navajo Nation presence with new Diné Market in Shiprock, New Mexico | Navajo Hopi observer

SHIPROCK, NM – Building on nearly four decades of dedication to serving the Navajo nation, Bashas ‘expanded the reach of its food offering for the Navajo population with the introduction of Bashas’ Diné Market in Shiprock, New Mexico.

Din̩ Market Рthe ninth Bashas grocery store in the Navajo Nation and the second location in New Mexico Рis soon to become a city market.

The City Market will officially close at 8 p.m. on July 19th and reopen as Bashas’ Diné Market on July 21st. Bashas’ will occupy the entire 42,108 square meter store and thus the new anchor tenant of the Shiprock / Tse ‘Bit’ A’i Shopping Center on the corner of US-491 and Highway 64.

Community partner

Since opening his first Diné market in 1982, Bashas has been an active and dedicated member of the Navajo Nation, supporting education, nutrition, arts, health and wellness through community programs and collaborations.

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said the partnership will benefit Shiprock and the surrounding communities.

“I thank the Bashas family for supporting our Navajo communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and doing everything they can to keep our community members and employees safe,” said Nez. “With this new company, we want to continue to offer our employees healthier foods and drinks so they can lead healthy and active lives to help fight diabetes and other health problems.”

Economic impact

Each location in the Bashas Diné Market gives 25% of its profits back to the Navajo Nation. Through this profit-sharing agreement, Bashas has donated more than $ 48 million to the Navajo Nation for educational grants and economic development in addition to rent and rent percentages.

“We appreciate the Basha family’s commitment to purchasing the grocery store at Shiprock / Tse ‘Bit’ A’i,” said Myron Lizer, vice president of Navajo Nation. “We welcome this new Bashas Diné market to Shiprock and look forward to seeing the many opportunities the Navajo nation will benefit from this partnership.”

Across the Navajo Nation, at least 95 percent of the members (employees) of Basha’s dine market stores are Native Americans. According to the latest employment figures, Bashas currently employs nearly 500 people in the Navajo Nation.

“We look forward to the transition and welcome Bashas’ Diné Markets to Shiprock Shopping Center,” said Nicholas Taylor, CEO of Navajo Nation Shopping Centers, Inc., which manages the mall. “The town market has served the community well and now we look forward to the Bashas Diné Market joining the community to provide jobs, fresh, healthy and local food and services to the Navajo people as they have done in 1982.”

Bashas’ will hire a majority of City Market’s employees who have worked on the site. (Some City Market employees will be relocated.) The store will employ approximately 50 people.

“Our plan for the social impact of Zero Hunger, Zero Waste is to ensure our communities have access to fresh food and essentials,” said Steve Burnham, president of City Market. “With that commitment in mind, we are excited to partner with Bashas as they take over the operation of this site to ensure the community continues to have access to the fresh food they need.”