Dig Downtown Blog

Tweet

One of the most common questions asked of Downtown residents is, “Where do you get your groceries in Detroit?”

Despite the urban myths, the incoming Whole Foods in Midtown isn’t the first grocery store that serves greater Downtown residents, nor will it be the first one with quality and higher end fare. Here’s a list of five options in no particular order (there’s more, but we’ve only got so much space), some large, some small, to get your grocery on.

Goodwell’s Market (4.5 stars on Yelp!)

Think NYC-style bodega on this one. It’s on the small side, but it’s the place in Midtown to find your organic food staples: grains and beans, fresh fruits and veggies, eggs, milk, and a ton of vegetarian options, but there’s a prepared food counter too, where you can find hommus, samosa, soups, and their famous pocket sandwiches. We’re awarding extra points for location– Goodwell’s sits right next to Avalon Bakery. It’s an easy stop to pick up your bread for the week… then maybe a cookie or 6 if your Goodwell’s spoils are a bit too leafy-green-vegan for you.

Honeybee La Colmena (4.5 stars on Yelp!)

Don’t let the fact it’s a hispanic-named store fool you – you can get all the staples you need for any house here, although the selections will definitely have a bit more in the latin department (if you’ve not tried Jarrito’s yet, it’s a universal favourite of the Dig crew). Whether it’s tamales or tomato sauce, this place is clean and has lots of fresh options. Try the guac – they usually tempt you at the front door with it. Give in. It’s worth it.

Lafayette Foods

This place recently opened, nestled in the very attractive Lafayette Park neighborhood. It’s got a solid deli, it’s also clean, well lit, and easy to get to down Lafayette. There’s quality options here, but this is going to be more like your run-of-the-mill Kroger (that many complain doesn’t exist in the city).. it’s perfect for the average household but also has some high-end items. Don’t be surprised if you run into the Motown-music signing cashier. He’s friendly, can carry a tune, and will get you out faster than you can say “I heard it through the grapevine!”

Harbortown Market

It’s a little to the east but a quick trip up Jefferson, and many greater downtown residents shop there (in many ways, honestly, the east riverfront and downtown end up sharing a lot of services). It’s easy to get to down Jefferson and the Harbortown complex is easy to park in and quite convenient.

Eastern Market

Last but certainly not least, the food mecca for many is Eastern Market. Not only is it open on Saturdays, but soon the market will be open on Tuesdays for the summer season. There are also stores like Rocky’s, which have a wide selection of quality groceries and spices, Germack where you can get quality coffees, teas, and nuts, Cost Plus, which is great for your wines and select beers, Wigley’s is unmatched for meats, as well as numerous other stores that are fresh. We’ll let you in on a little secret — if you were there early in the morning, you’ll find trucks for Papa Joe’s and numerous other bigger names as well as the occasional chef or sous chef looking for the best deal on any day of the week. The secret is it’s where the grocers you’re used to shopping at get their stuff, so save some money and cut out the middleman when you live Downtown.