A Decade in the Making, Detroit Gets a Radical, Black-Led Food Co-Op #DetroitFood

A sign in green, orange, and yellow against a brick exterior that says Detroit People’s Food Co-Op.

Look inside the Detroit People’s Food Co-op, a community-driven effort that finally opens its doors in the North End on Wednesday, May 1

In the culmination of a more than a decade-long journey, the Black-led, community-owned Detroit People’s Food Co-op at 8324 Woodward in the city’s North End is open as of Wednesday, May 1.

The 15,000-square-foot supermarket is situated on the ground floor of the 34,000-square-foot community development complex, the Detroit Food Commons. The member-supported store offers fresh produce, bulk food, a prepared deli section, shelf-stable pantry items, and other grocery essentials. The second floor is dedicated to office space and a banquet hall, as well as four shared commercial kitchen spaces. The kitchens, managed by chef Gabriel Vincent, are available for rent to individuals with food-based businesses in need of a commercial commissary kitchen — a resource that has long been lacking in availability in the city.

Akil Talley, the co-op’s general manager, tells Eater that Detroiters can erase whatever crunchy granola vibes (read: expensive) they might have expected from the store’s offerings. Organizers from the Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network — the group behind the development — underwent a community engagement process to find out the shopping needs of the surrounding neighborhood.

“The idea is not to try to force what we think is best for people, our job is to come to the community and meet people where they are,” says Talley.

Cost was a major sticking point among residents, along with concerns over having to travel outside of the city limits to access staple products that are typically hard to find in Detroit proper. As such, 50 percent of the co-op’s inventory is considered conventional — food that may be grown and processed using synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or hormones — and 50 percent organically sourced. This formula also allows for more consistent pricing throughout the store, says Chris Dilley, who was hired as a manager on contract ahead of the co-op’s launch. Additionally, the co-op is a member of the National Co+op Grocers, which provides 161 food co-ops operating more than 230 stores in 39 states across the country with capacity-building support — including strengthened purchasing power — without having to sacrifice the autonomy of an individual co-op.

The co-op works with four local growers, including Oakland Avenue Farm Urban Farm, D-Town Farm, Green Boots Veteran Community Urban Farm, and one other farm just a little further outside of the immediate to supply some of the produce inventory.

The co-op currently carries more than 70 locally-sourced products. All local food vendors interested in having their items stocked in the store went through an intake process. All products on the premises must be prepared in a licensed commercial kitchen and properly labeled. Talley tells Eater that in the time that he’s been in his current position, he’s been inundated with inquiries from individuals wanting to get their goods sold in the co-op.

The co-op spent the past several years raising the funds needed to develop the site, which cost an estimated $22 million to complete. According to Axios Detroit, supply chain issues contributed to delays in construction. Last year, the co-op was awarded a $100,000 grant from Motor City Match, Crain’s Detroit reports. Co-op organizers also initiated a years-long membership campaign. As of Wednesday, May 1, more than 2,800 member-owners have signed up for membership, which entails a one-time $200 fee. The store, however, is open to the public and membership is not required to shop.

Eater Detroit had a chance to stop by the co-op in late April as inventory was being added to shelves. Here, photographer Fatima Syed offers an inside glimpse of what to expect inside the space.

Shelving with shampoo, lip balm, hair dye, loofahs, and other personal care products.

A sign on a white wall that says Whaddupdoe! Detroit People’s Food Co-Op Community Owned Grocer.

A store aisle with shelves to the left, right, and in the center stocked with packaged food and a green and brown sign above that says 5 and descriptions of food.

Customers can find both conventional and organically-sourced products throughout the co-op. The space is also stocked with conveniences like personal care products so Detroiters can avoid a trip to suburban big box stores.