Fourth-Generation Detroiter to Bring Healthy Food Access to Detroit’s Eastside
Alontae Pittman hasn’t always wanted to be a grocer. A self-described “serial entrepreneur,” Pittman has started and sold a landscaping business, owned a convenience store, and even ran a hookah shop for a few years, but the food space, he admits, is relatively new to him.
“I’ve started a few very successful businesses, but my goal with entrepreneurship is to build something that my children can learn and live on,” the father of “two handsome sons” explains. “The idea to open a grocery store came from the simple fact that Detroit needs more healthy food spots. Access to good food here is just not very convenient at all.”
Whittier Bodega, located at 11009 Whittier, on Detroit’s east side is set to open later this year is in a very tight-knit community, he says, that, like many others, unfortunately lacks access to a nearby healthy food source.
“This neighborhood is truly a community—full of homes, full of people, full of schools, churches, businesses—but no grocery store,” he says. That’s why Whittier Bodega isn’t just a business—it’s a response to a real and urgent need for fresh, healthy options close to home.
Pittman saw an opportunity to leave a legacy for his family while fulfilling a local need and finding a niche in the community. “My family has lived in this part of the city for generations,” he says. “I went to high school and middle school here, and it’s not just me—my grandparents and great-grandparents moved here from Mississippi. My family has been here for more than 80 years—I know all my neighbors!”
Asked if he is anxious, exhausted, thankful, or hopeful about opening this new business venture, he laughs: “All of the above.” This leg of his entrepreneurial journey has certainly presented unforeseen obstacles, and the “love and prayer” that has kept him between the ditches has gotten an assist from loyal partners who believed in—and helped Pittman believe in— his vision. He recounts how it all got started with an application to Motor City Match, a Detroit initiative that has helped more than 2,000 entrepreneurs create mobility through entrepreneurship. “I just happened by another business that was doing a “grand re-opening” after going through some struggles, and the owner turned me on to Motor City Match,” he explains. “So, I filled out an application and we started doing resource meetings where they introduced me to potential partners ProsperUS Detroit, Invest Detroit, and Michigan Good Food Fund.” Years later, Pittman is still attending regular meetings where he is put in contact with resources and partners who can best help him realize his vision of a grocery store and community hub.
Michigan Good Food Fund has been awarded $3 million through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) Partnerships Program. This HFFI grant includes $2 million in innovative credit enhancements that will support MGFF’s lender network in providing financing and technical assistance to food retail and supply chain businesses in underserved communities—making it possible for projects like Pittman’s to get off the ground and thrive.
Original loans obtained through ProsperUS and Michigan Good Food Fund enabled Pittman to develop the physical location for his store, and technical assistance provided by Fair Food Network helped him optimize that space for grocery retail. And when Pittman hit a snag that delayed access to a grant he had received, he knew who he could turn to when he needed emergency funding to keep his project on track. “I reached out to all my partners that have been with me through these last few months, just to let them know what was going on—because we had plans to open at a certain time, and I wanted to let them know there was a holdup,” he says. “Michigan Good Food Fund said, ‘Let’s go back to the drawing board and figure out how we can get this done.’ And that’s how we got here.”
Whittier Bodega will soon offer pantry goods and fresh fruits and vegetables from local growers, as well as prepared foods outsourced from local vendors and a full-service deli where customers can purchase sliced meats and cheeses or order a house-made sandwich to go. Once established, Whittier Bodega will be able to process SNAP transactions, as well, and Pittman is particularly excited about the technical assistance provided by Fair Food Network to set up Double Up Food Bucks, which will provide a one-to-one match on purchases of healthy fresh vegetables for his neighbors who use SNAP, up to $20 per day. “My vision is a community store where we offer resources and hold neighborhood events like toy drives, and as we grow, we’ll be able to provide more and more services to our customers. And our hiring will be community-based,” says Pittman.
“Whittier Bodega is a perfect example of how impact investing and nutrition incentives like Double Up Food Bucks can work together to support community resilience,” says Fair Food Network Retail Specialist Charles Walker.
“Through programs like Double Up and Michigan Good Food Fund, we’re investing in underserved entrepreneurs in underserved communities to not only fill a niche and provide access to healthy food, but to build more vibrant neighborhoods with community hubs that bring people together.”
“Supporting Whittier Bodega is a clear example of how we, at Fair Food Network and through the Michigan Good Food Fund, can help move vital community projects forward—especially when other funding sources are delayed or uncertain,” said Shakir Bralock, investment manager at Fair Food Network. “We’re seeing this happen not just in Detroit, but in communities across the country—where local leaders have strong visions but face unpredictable gaps in public funding. Our role is to help bridge that gap so these projects don’t lose momentum.”
To entrepreneurs like Pittman contending with those make-or-break moments, building partnerships to help navigate the inevitable twists and turns has proven crucial to their success. “It’s been a long journey with a lot of hurdles,” remarks Pittman. “It’s just that everything is so new and you’ve got to sort of hit a wall, step back and say, ‘Oh, there’s a wall there,” and go around or over or whatever. But I know the right people to help me overcome those hurdles. I’m surrounded by the greatest people and the greatest partners.”
For other entrepreneurs navigating similar challenges or looking to bring a bold vision to life, Pittman’s journey is a reminder that the right partners can make all the difference. Through its lending network, technical assistance, and programs, Michigan Good Food Fund supports small business owners who are creating real impact in their communities. Whether you’re just starting out or trying to scale, resources are available to help you move forward. To learn more about how Michigan Good Food Fund can support your goals, visit migoodfoodfund.org and follow along on social media to connect with a growing network of entrepreneurs transforming Michigan’s food landscape.