Flint is working on bringing the community back together by delivering basic
needs to its residents. A group of dedicated residents and nonprofits have committed to the unthinkable – an urban grocer in downtown Flint. Not just a grocer, but a neighborhood-based grocer that would carry green-produce, dry goods, dairy, meat, fish, bakery and include a deli. A grocer that would coordinate with the Flint Farmer’s Market and its vendors to support local organic farmers and provide healthy alternatives seven days a week to community residents in a central-city location. Residents living in a here-to-for “food desert” would have an oasis of reasonably priced, fresh alternatives to the withered “Washington State delicious apples” in baskets beside the Ginseng Energy Boost at the check-out of the local liquor store.

Witherbee’s is located on the corner of Martin Luther King and University
Avenues in the center of the ‘Neon District’ of Historic Carriage Town. It is close to inner-city neighborhoods, local institutions, public transportation options and local expressways. New housing developments include Berridge Place Condominium Development, the Durant Hotel, Manhattan Place, new apartments being developed by the Uptown Development Corporation over retail stores in downtown Flint, and the University of Michigan – Flint dormitories.

The departure of supermarkets to the suburbs, inadequate public
transportation, and a scarcity of healthy foods at corner stores are all factors that contribute to a lack of healthy food access in downtown neighborhoods.

That fact, and a need for local grocers available seven days a week, led a group
of neighborhood residents from the Carriage Town Neighborhood to come up with the concept of starting a small neighborhood grocery store and deli.

As an active member of the Partnership Team, the Local Initiatives Support
Corporation (LISC), has been providing ongoing technical assistance and support for this project. Other team members include local foundations, Flint NIPP, Inc. (a local community development corporation), local lenders and community residents.

It is estimated that the business will create at least 15 new employment
opportunities and support farmers and other vendors from the city of Flint. It is the goal of the project to use as many local resources as possible while supporting the local economy. Witherbee’s is a 100 percent Michigan project – all Michigan business and companies such as accountants, legal assistants, consultants, a family owned wholesaler from Alpena, and even technology from a point of sale vendor from Escanaba.