In case you haven't heard, some local groups are trying to bring a small grocery store to downtown Ypsi. I am writing about this because many of the low income families living in Ypsi have limited access to fresh produce and a store like this would make a tremendous difference.
Especially because many of the families that we serve who live in Ypsi don't have a car, so a store within walking distance and right downtown is a great option.
I asked Annette Rook, who works at the Community Development Department for the County to give us an update on the store:
Hi Nancy,
I can’t take credit for the new store, but I am as excited as the rest of the community. I did, however, stop by the store and have the following information to share.
Thank you!
Annette
Since the Ypsilanti community has been so clear in the past year about its need for greater access to healthy food, we thought that it might interest you that a couple of gentlemen—Nickolas & Reyes Arreola—are in the process of developing a grocery store on Michigan Avenue (near Hamilton & Michigan). Here are a few details that they shared with me when I stopped by the store earlier this week:
- They have another small Mexican grocery store called “Dos Hermanos”, which they have operated in Adrian for about 4 years.
- The target grand opening date is planned for early May, and they plan to have produce, dairy, meat, baked goods, and a deli.
- They are planning to have an open house for other local business owners prior to their opening, so that they can start to get to know the community.
- They have an interest in partnering with local farmers to sell produce in their store, as long as it is “affordable for the customers”.
Anyway, they have also indicated that they would like to find ways to reach out to the Ypsilanti community. In particular, they are looking for feedback about what types of products their new neighbors would be most apt to purchase and/or help getting the word out to the surrounding neighborhoods about their store.
If you have ideas about how they can reach out to the community and/or if you would like to help with marketing or outreach, please email Annette Rook at rooka@ewashtenaw.org
2 comments:
Just to clarify / expand, the Ypsilanti Healthy Food Access Initiative, "led" by Annette, has been looking at food access over the past year, and found generally that a store selling fresh groceries was needed in an accessible location. That is, people of limited mobility, who can't easily make it to the suburban Krogers or Meijers easily, need something close to their homes/neighborhoods that stocks more than the average liquor or convenience store.
While the YHFAI was strategizing on how this need might be met, these gentlemen just happened to lease and start outfitting the space on Michigan Ave. Their relationship to Annette and to the Initiative's work of the past year is pretty coincidental, and I think the YHFAI is looking at working with them to see what part of the determined "need" they can fulfill.
Murph,
Thanks for the clarification. It's great to see the convergence of factors that have led to the idea of a store with healthy food.
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