As renovations begin at the former Tops on West 26th Street, Mariel Badaracco can't help but be excited.
She used to the walk to the store for groceries but now has to find other, less convenient places to shop.
She says the incoming Grocery Outlet would be a godsend.
"It would mean a lot," she said. "This neighborhood needs it. It's bad that we lost the Tops here, and there's not a lot going on here. We have a lot of people who are not mobile and who walk, so fresh groceries would be convenient."
For now, she's stuck getting rides to other grocery stores or walking to the nearby dollar store.
Her savings -- and her nutrition -- have taken a hit. 
"All you get is boxed stuff," she said. "You don't get fresh meat. You don't get fresh vegetables, nothing like that. No fresh fruits."
Dalton Dudley is in a similar situation. Tops was convenient. Stores miles away simply aren't.
"To have a grocery store would be the best for us," he said. "That way, if we need things, we could run over really quick and grab something. That would be pretty cool.” 
Since Tops closed, his family has changed its shopping habits. 
Now, there's no quick grocery runs. Every trip is planned, and he stocks up when he can.
"We have to plan a little bit more ahead if we are going to run further away, we have to grab some stuff and stockpile a little bit more than we already do," he said.
For both Dudley and Badacarro, the reaction is the same.
After months without a grocery store, they're thrilled to get one back.
"Excited," she said. "Excited for the neighborhood. Excited for me. Excited for everyone"
The Grocery Outlet will be joined by a Dollar Tree and a fitness center. The remodeled business is scheduled to open next spring.