Long absent from Michigan’s largest city, Meijer will soon have a presence in the East Jefferson Corridor in Detroit. Similar to other small-format stores located in Grand Rapids, Royal Oak, and Lansing, the upcoming Rivertown Market will present a unique shopping experience, offering Detroiters fresh food, artisan groceries, and other Meijer brands products.
For Meijer, the move with the Rivertown Market is all about locality, something that will see not just food sourced from local providers, but the center itself will be run by a native Detroiter. Marcus Reliford, who lives just three blocks from the store’s planned location, was recently announced as the individual leading the new smaller format Meijer.
“I grew up on the west side of Detroit as a kid and came back recently to help give back and contribute to my community and city,” said Reliford in a press release put out by Meijer. “This is our first store in downtown Detroit. There’s no one who wanted this job more than me. It feels good to be home.”
Creating approximately 60 jobs with competitive wages and health benefits, the Rivertown Market will also work to support local brands by featuring products right in the store. By the time the store opens for business, Reliford’s goal is to include 2000 local products sourced from the Detroit area.
The inclusion of local products paints the store different than your normal Metro Detroit Meijer, with locally sourced artisan products like Pietrzyk Pierogi, Ma Cohens, and Cyntsational Popcorn stacking the shelves, as well as the inclusion of a flower shop featuring local Avanti Greeting Cards. Two Detroit staples will also call the Meijer Rivertown Market home, Mudgie’s Deli, which will be opening its second Detroit location, and Great Lakes Coffee, which will be operating a shop that specializes in Nitro Brews and low/medium roasts.
Besides food and drink, the store will also feature various cleaning items and supplies and cleaning items and health and beauty products sourced from local, black women-owned businesses.
The building’s function will feature open-air elements and a walkable design that favors pedestrian travel and garage-style doors that open to fresh produce and floral areas. In total, the produce department is slated as being 4,700-square-feet, while a 52-foot wet well is also slated for the design.
If you’re looking to be featured as one of the thousands of local products featured through the market, more info can be found here.
Subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates on all things Detroit and more.
