Meijer, the City of Detroit and RDG Rivertown Market, LLC are are developing a new, ground-up grocery retail development at 1475 E. Jefferson Ave. in the East Jefferson Corridor of Detroit. This area has been designated by the City of Detroit as the next area of focus for redevelopment.
The new project will feature an estimated 42,000-square-foot standalone neighborhood market operated by Meijer called Rivertown Market and 100 surface parking spaces. This will mark the retailer’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, Michigan.
“Meijer is committed to our communities, which is why we are so excited to continue our investment in the City of Detroit with the addition of Rivertown Market,” Meijer president and chief executive officer Rick Keyes said. “After the success of our three other neighborhood markets, we look forward to providing new ways to serve our customers in this area of Detroit that has so much potential for growth.”
Much like the Grand Rapids, Michigan-based retailer’s other small formats, Rivertown Market will focus on offering customers a unique shopping experience and feature a vast assortment of fresh food; artisan groceries; and Meijer and national brand products. It will create about 60 jobs, offering competitive wages, access to health benefits and a 401(k) program with a company match.
As it relates to the construction plans, competitive wages will be paid by Rockford Construction, the construction manager, to Construction Trade Contractors, including carpenters, laborers, operators, roofers, plumbers, electricians and landscapers. There will be about 250 full-time construction positions during the different phases of the 14-month construction period. Financing for the project is being provided by Gun Lake Investments and Mercantile Bank.
In addition, RDG Rivertown Market, LLC plans to make significant improvements to the adjacent “Greening of Detroit” Park.
The city of Detroit recently released a master plan for the East Jefferson corridor, The East Riverfront Framework, which lays out a design and development plan for a multi-mile stretch of the historic avenue. A snapshot of the plan includes ways to reduce traffic speed, increase population density, and potentially incorporate a Q-line extension. In addition to the jobs created by the store and construction, the spinoff economic development will include jobs for local residents, such as grounds and park maintenance, insurance, building maintenance and bike share, and will build a strong community centerpiece for the Lafayette Park and Rivertown neighborhoods.
Meijer and Rockford, in cooperation with the City of Detroit, local unions and other entities will host a number of community engagement activities, such as informative gatherings to discuss the nature of the project, vendor opportunities for local businesses, and job fairs to encourage and help people looking for work in the store and in the construction trades.
