Park Slope residents say they hope a new development that is set to replace an essential supermarket will continue to support the community.

Residents say the Key Food in Park Slope has been a staple in the community for decades.

The market is set to be vacated by next month ahead of plans to transform the Fifth Avenue site into a mixed-use building, bringing affordable and market rate housing along with a new supermarket to the location.

The redevelopment of Key Food has been years in the making.

Park Slope resident Anita Bushell says she worked for seven years to save the store from closing before the store was sold to developers. She also started the online group “Save the Fifth Avenue Key Food.”

She and S.J. Avery, of the Park Slope Civic Council, say they're sad about the store leaving for a number of reasons.

"We were really concerned that this would become another food desert if this place went up, that was the first concern,” Avery says. “The second concern was what kind of apartments are going up."

Since developers William Macklowe Company and Senlac Ridge Partners purchased the site, they say they've been trying to ensure the new development reflects the needs of the community. They have even worked alongside a community stakeholder group.

Demolition on the building is expected to happen by the end of the year, with the new development expected to open by 2024.

While they're sad to see Key Food go, Bushell and Avery say they are remaining optimistic about the future of the site.