Thursday, September 24, 2026
1:00-2:00pm ET
YOU’RE INVITED
Ever wonder why your neighborhood doesn’t have a grocery store or pharmacy? The reason could be a sneaky lease clause used by big chains to keep competitors out.
Join the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) on Thursday, September 24, 2026 for a virtual event to learn more about restrictive covenants — and what you can do about them.
“Locked Out: The Clause That’s Killing Your Main Street” brings together people who have successfully banned restrictive covenants to provide first-hand information about how they work, how you can find them, what they cost communities, and what legal, legislative, and practical tools exist to fight back. If you’re a local or state policymaker, Main Street leader, independent business owner, community advocate, urban planner, commercial real estate professional, or an interested citizen, please join us for this information-packed overview of this vital issue.
Speakers include:
Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor SABINA MATOS is championing state legislation to improve access to healthy food for the state’s residents, including a new law to stop grocery store chains from using restrictive covenants to stifle competition.
JONMAESHA BELTRAN, an investigative reporter for ecoRI, dug deep into property records to uncover restrictive covenants preventing new grocery stores from opening in Rhode Island.
DAVID FOLCARELLI, a senior advisor to Lt. Gov. Matos, worked closely with the Lieutenant Governor to assemble her Fair Price Grocery Agenda, including the law banning restrictive covenants affecting grocery stores.
KENNEDY SMITH is a senior researcher for ILSR and a community economic development expert whose work focuses on leveling the playing field for independent businesses.
Rhode Island passes landmark law to end grocery store real estate restrictions.
Local and state governments can ban restrictive covenants for grocery and pharmacy chains, helping improve access to essential goods and services.
Stacy Mitchell explains how big retailers exploit their financial control over suppliers, threatening independent grocers and increasing prices. Enforcing the Robinson Patman Act could help.
The decision to stop enforcing a single law decimated the independent grocery market and led to the dominance of big chains.