Former South End Grocery owner pleads guilty to stabbing

The former owner of the now-closed South End Grocery admitted to stabbing a person with a screwdriver.

Travon T. Jackson pleaded guilty Thursday in Albany County Court to second-degree assault. Jackson was arrested after entering a residence on Bassett Street last Christmas Day and stabbing the person in the back of the head and ear. The victim had minor cuts, pain and difficulty hearing in the ear.

Special prosecutor Danielle Neroni said Jackson will receive prison time and probation when he is sentenced Dec. 17.

The victims are satisfied with this resolution. A protection order is also put in place.

The South End Grocery opened in December 2022 in a former McDonald’s. It is in an area considered a “food desert”. It closed in July 2023 after a fire extinguisher went off in a food preparation area and never reopened.

Albany County purchased the property for $450,000.