Construction is underway on Detroit’s latest grocery market. Meijer, the City of Detroit, and RDG Rivertown Market, LLC, have partnered to launch Rivertown Market located in the East Jefferson Corridor. Rivertown Market will be a 42,000-square-foot standalone neighborhood market operated by Meijer and will be set to serve Lafayette Park and Rivertown’s immediate historic districts. The development will mark Meijer’s fourth small-format store. Bridge Street Market opened in August 2018 in Grand Rapids, Woodward Corner Market opened in January 2020 in Royal Oak, and Capital City Market opened in October 2020 in downtown Lansing.
Meijer launched in Detroit with its first supercenter on 8 Mile and Woodward in 2013 and then in 2015 opened a second store on Grand River on the city’s northwest side.
“Today we are so very excited to continue our investment in the city of Detroit and build upon the great momentum we have with this Rivertown market. This neighborhood market will bring a mix of fresh product, local product, national brands and Meijer brand groceries to the downtown Detroit community at low prices,” said Meijer Properties Senior Vice President Vik Srinivasan. “We believe in the revitalization of the East Jefferson corridor and are excited to have such a core presence in such an inspiring part of the city. We can’t wait for you to see, shop it and experience it.”
Dennis Archer Jr., a partner with RDG Rivertown Market, LLC, grew up not too far from where Rivertown Market will soon stand. “I aspired in my twenties to be a contributor to Detroit’s business community and I am proud to be doing so, just blocks away from my childhood home,” said Archer Jr.
He admits breaking ground for the project took longer than expected but credits the city council’s tenacity, city departments, and the neighborhood for construction finally getting underway. He is proud to be soon able to add a grocer option for Detroit residents.
“It’s a misnomer that there are not other grocery stores within a few miles of here, but if you live in the suburbs you have options. You have your larger superstores like Costco, you have national grocers and local markets,” said Archer Jr. “We believe that the city of Detroit should have those same options. This will be fresh affordable food…a design that’s befitting of this Lafayette Park Rivertown community.”
Meijer and Rockford Construction, in cooperation with the City of Detroit, local unions, and other entities, will host several community engagement activities, such as informative gatherings to discuss the nature of Rivertown Market, vendor opportunities for local businesses, and job fairs to encourage and help people looking for work in the store and the construction trades.
Rivertown Market is scheduled to open by the fourth quarter of 2021.
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