Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Fred Walker, Jr. and his store are ready to serve the Suffolk community.

Walker’s Market, a new family-owned store aimed at providing convenience for the Downtown Suffolk area, celebrated its grand opening on Saturday, Jan. 13, at its location of 530 W. Washington St. Joining the growing list of Downtown’s small businesses, Walker’s Markets will provide a variety of goods to visitors, including fresh produce, personal hygiene items, herbs and much more. Walker, alongside family, friends and Suffolk City Council members, celebrated the opening of the new Downtown addition with a ribbon cutting ceremony. 

When asked about the achievement, Walker Jr. expressed that he is ready to get down to business.

“I’m just ready to serve the community,” Walker said. “I’m here to help my people. I love the City of Suffolk. That’s what I am here for.”

His parents, Sharon Walker and Fred Walker Sr. attended the ceremony and shared their pride in their son and his business venture. Sharon Walker reflected on her son’s early work of giving back to the community.

“As a mom, I am very proud of him and excited,” Sharon Walker said. “And he’s been like this for a while. From a little boy, maybe five years old, serving the community, serving the homeless, working with us out on the streets even as a little boy and he always gives. This is just who he is. That’s what he does.”

She emphasized Walker’s goal of providing convenience to residents in the Downtown area.

“As someone mentioned to him, the fact that they have to go either to Walmart or Food Lion to grab an onion and he said, ‘Hey, you can come right here and get what [you] need’ for our people. So this is what he does. I’m proud,” Sharon Walker said.

Walker’s big sister Nikia Hill noted how proud she was of her brother after being there “to support him in every way.” Hill further detailed how his store is a one-stop shop for the community.

“We’re here to make sure that we’re convenient for the members of the community…,” Hill said. “Therefore, if you need anything from a doorknob to some body oil to fresh herbs, we got you!”

Walker’s Market is open weekdays from 6 am to 10 pm, with extended weekend hours.