The North Flint Food Market, a long-awaited grocery store on the city’s northwest side, is preparing to open its doors to shoppers at noon on November 12, 2023. After more than ten years of planning and community effort, representatives announced the grand opening in a news release on October 24.
Brigitte Brown Jackson, chair of the North Flint Food Market board, expressed her enthusiasm for the milestone. “This is a moment of pride for our community,” she stated. “We’ve worked toward this day for more than ten years, and now our members finally have the store they built together. This is Ujamaa — cooperative economics — in action. We own it.”
Co-op Model Promotes Community Investment
Located on Clio Road, just north of Pierson Road, the grocery store operates as a cooperative, allowing anyone to shop there. Member-owners can invest in the market for $250, or $500 for churches and other organizations, providing them with a say in the store’s operations and how profits are reinvested or distributed. Supporters of the co-op model emphasize that it ensures proceeds benefit local programs, educational workshops, and community events.
The journey to this opening has not been without challenges. Ground was broken over four years ago, and plans to launch in 2022 were delayed due to unexpectedly high equipment costs and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Efforts to secure funding from the city fell through, including a recent request for $300,000 to assist with staff onboarding and training, which was not approved by the City Council.
Despite these setbacks, market officials remained committed to the project, ultimately securing a $1.5 million grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation earlier this year. The foundation had previously supported the initiative with $2.1 million in grants during 2021 and 2022, highlighting the market’s role in providing fresh, healthy, and affordable food options in an area often described as a food desert.
A Symbol of Empowerment and Unity
In recent years, the closure of nearby Meijer and Kroger stores, along with the short-lived Hamady Complete Food Centers, which opened in 2018 but closed after just four months, underscored the need for this new grocery option. The grand opening will feature a short dedication program starting at 11:40 a.m. before the store opens at noon.
The Rev. Reginald Flynn, co-founder and executive director of the North Flint Reinvestment Corporation, remarked on the significance of the new market. “This store is more than a place to buy groceries — it’s a symbol of empowerment and unity,” he stated. “It’s proof that when a community believes in itself, anything is possible. It is part of a larger vision to transform this area of North Flint.”
For more information about the North Flint Food Market, visit www.northflintfoodmarket.org, follow @NFFMKT on Facebook, or call 810-620-1974.
