Community-Powered Grocery Stores Strengthen Detroit’s Food Economy

We never expected that building a sustainable food system would be easy. At Fair Food Network, we’ve seen time and again that it takes courage, persistence, and hope to overcome the barriers that stand in the way of a food system that works for all of us. In our home state of Michigan, entrepreneurs and organizations are meeting those challenges head-on — transforming obstacles into opportunities and proving that perseverance is what powers thriving local economies and resilient communities. 

In Detroit, the new Whittier Bodega is a powerful example. Local entrepreneur Alontae Pittman dreamed of bringing a grocery store back to the neighborhood where he grew up, even though the area had long struggled with disinvestment and food access challenges. Opening a new store in a corridor that had been overlooked for years required grit, creativity, and trust-building. Today, Whittier Bodega is part of the rebirth of community life. With technical assistance and financial support from Fair Food Network, the store celebrated its grand opening in July and has plans to offer SNAP and Double Up Food Bucks to its customers in the near future. Our Double Up program helps families using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, get a dollar-for-dollar match on SNAP purchases of fresh fruits and vegetables. For Alontae, the store is more than a business — it’s a statement of resilience and a commitment to restoring pride in his community. 

Just a few miles away, Garden Fresh Marketplace shows what perseverance looks like for an established grocer. Like many independent markets, Garden Fresh has faced stiff competition from national chains, tight margins, and the economic aftershocks of the pandemic. Rather than retreating, the owners leaned in — securing support from the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) and financing through the Michigan Good Food Fund to expand their operations. That decision reflects courage in the face of uncertainty: choosing to grow when others might scale back. Their expansion is creating more opportunities for Detroit families to access fresh, affordable food, while sustaining local jobs and keeping food dollars circulating in the community. 

Together, Whittier Bodega and Garden Fresh Marketplace illustrate the perseverance and spirit at the heart of Michigan’s food movement. Each is charting a path through real barriers with vision and determination — creating healthier, stronger communities along the way.