May 3rd 2024.
After years of anticipation and preparation, the North End neighborhood in Detroit finally has its own Black-run, full-scale grocery store. On May 1st, the Detroit People's Food Co-Op opened its doors for the first time, offering a wide range of quality grocery options to the predominantly Black community. What's unique about this co-op is that anyone can become an owner by becoming a member, and as of the opening, there were already over 2,740 members.
This incredible project was made possible by the Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network, and the supermarket's shelves are now stocked with fresh and locally-sourced products. Not only can shoppers find produce from four Black-owned farms, but they can also browse through a variety of herbs, spices, condiments, meat, dairy, vegan options, baked goods, and more. The co-op even has a deli, a coffee bar, and offers food samples to its customers.
The president of the co-op's board of directors, Lanay Gilbert-Williams, couldn't be prouder of this achievement. She emphasized that this co-op is not like any other major grocery store, such as Kroger. Instead, it is a community-owned establishment where everyone is welcome and has a stake in its success. Gilbert-Williams stated, "This is not something you're invited to. It's literally yours. There is no rich person in the shadows. People can't imagine such a heaven where all types of people have come together to do a thing and take ownership of a thing. It belongs to the entire community."
For years, Detroit has been working towards improving access to sustainable food, and this co-op is just the latest development. According to a 2022 report from the Detroit Food Policy Council, the demand for emergency food resources increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the opening of new sites to meet the needs of the community. However, for almost a decade, Black-owned grocery stores have been scarce in the city, leaving almost 70% of residents labeled as "food insecure."
But now, things are changing for the better. On its opening day, the co-op received an overwhelming response from the community, with people sharing videos and photos of the beautiful establishment on social media. One woman even spotted her own product on the shelves! Actor and author Hill Harper, who is currently running for U.S. Senate in Michigan, also showed his support by talking to potential voters and celebrating the co-op's success. He emphasized the importance of investing in communities and how it can lead to positive change.
The Detroit People's Food Co-Op was even listed in the Detroit Free Press as one of 10 new developments that people should be excited about in 2024. Executive director of DBCFSN, Malik Yakini, expressed his gratitude and excitement on opening day, but also acknowledged that there is still more work to be done. He stated, "It feels great to finally be open, but we're at the finish line and at the starting line also. Now, we have to run a successful grocery store, and so we're appealing to our community to shop on a regular basis. It's good to have opening-day excitement, but we need that excitement translated into regular sales for the store to be sustainable."
The official grand opening celebration, set for May 18th, will be a day full of fun activities and workshops for the whole community to enjoy. This co-op is not just a grocery store; it's a beacon of community empowerment, health, and progress. With a huge smile, Gilbert-Williams expressed her excitement, saying, "I can't express how thrilled I am to see the Detroit People's Food Co-op open its doors on Woodward!! Years and years of hard work and perseverance by all - and it's owned by the people of the community!"
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
