The clock is ticking as Detroit waits eagerly for the grand opening of the first Whole Foods Market in Detroit.
At 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 5, the Whole Foods Market in Detroit will open its doors to the public. On opening day, there will be 70 tents selling local products and merchandise.
Construction of the Whole Foods Store broke ground in August on the corner of Mack Avenue and Woodward at a time Larry Austin said Detroit is Looking Up.
“We visited Detroit and fell in love with it,” Austin said. “And with everything that’s going on in Detroit and the way it’s kind of coming up, we felt it would be a good time to pout a store. And a lot of it was a collective energy of the people that wanted this store to happen for a long time.”
The inspirations Detroit influenced upon the Whole Food Market are easy to find. Motown vinyl records illuminate the cash register aisles. The café tables are crafted from old car hoods. Murals on the exterior wall add a splash of color and vibrancy to Midtown Detroit.
“We wanted to make sure that we captured the city,” Austin said. “That was important to our residents.”
To reach out the public, the Whole Foods Market in Detroit employs 91 employees, and 70 percent of the staff is from the Detroit area.
Trying to attract local vendors, the market hosted a vendor fair in February.
“We had almost 80 vendors show up at the fair,” Austin said. “We’ll have 5o new vendors by the time the store opens. So we reach out to local vendors in Detroit that way.”
The Whole Foods Market supports the community by selling Detroit products including Good People Popcorn, Mo ‘ Better Shea Butter and Watershed Water.
The Whole Foods Market is more than the average grocery store. Inside, customers can eat lunch at the café or drink alcohol while shopping. The community room on the second floor offers shopping classes and wellness classes. Make sure to sign up.
