Changes to the old Downtown Foodland on Lafayette

FYI the old Downtown Foodland on Lafayette has been purchased. The market will be named Lafayette Foods. My name is Lance and I am proud to say I will be the full time manager for the new market [[Lafayette Foods). My team and I combined have over 50 years of experience. We currently have three markets in the city of Detroit and one in the suburbs. We are extremly excited to open up our fourth market in the city of Detroit. If anyone has any questions, comments, or suggestions please feel free to blog back or email me. Thank you!
Lance
lafayettefoods@gmail.com

Will the prices be reasonable compared to Harbortown and the prev Foodland?

Yes the prices will be extremely reasonable, while providing the customer with GOOD!and FRESH! quality foods.

Hi Lance: Thanks so much for opening up the store! I am contemplating a move to a neighborhood near Lafayette Park within the next 4-5 months, and this is wonderful news.

I'm unfamiliar with the former store layout. What kinds of amenities will be offered [[deli, bakery, pharmacy, hot bar, sushi, etc.)?

Also, as someone with a litany of allergies, I'm wondering if you'll stock natural and organic products...

Very good Lance, keep up the good work. Detroiters want a excellent friendly neighborhood supermarket that could beat those suburban big box markets like Kroger's, Meijer's and EVIL Super-Wal-Mart. Please Shop your friendly neighbohood classic community supermarkets in Detroit's ghettohoods.

One of only two things I miss about working at my prior job in a "suburban" office building is that I could go a half mile and get broccoli salad, tuna salad, and other selections by the pound for lunch, along with "hot bar" options. Hope you include them, and market to commuters. It is also an easy stop for anyone needing groceries on the way home to the east side and burbs. Good luck.

Thank you Danny we will try our best. To answer your question English, Lafayette Foods will have a deli, bakery, hot bar etc. As of now we do not have a pharmacy, we will be working on it. Also yes there will be a selection of organic products. We are open to new ideas and will be experimenting with many different products. Once again if anyone has any suggestions feel free to let me know thank you.

Bartock we will also have a variety of salads buy the pound. Thank you

Lafeyette Foods, I just sent you an email.

ok i will take a look

I was curious, where is this exactly? I live downtown and have been looking for a new place to shop for groceries. What street is this on?

E Lafayette before Orleans in the strip-mall there. Same one as Cottage Inn.

When do you expect to open?

Expected to open around April 2011

Any suggestions are welcome thank you

This is good. I got a buddy who lives in Lafayette towers who has mentioned to me that it would be nice to have a place close by to get groceries.

Best of luck when you open

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LafayetteFoods

Any suggestions are welcome thank you

---

Maybe a website?

I second the need for a website. So many wonderful CBD businesses really don't have a huge web presence.

Also it might be nice to offer limited grocery delivery services to area residents. Harbortown Market and Kim's Produce are offering such services... in most major cities, busy professionals can order a selection of groceries right off the Internet, and many would be willing to pay a premium/delivery costs for such a service.

What will your hours be?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LafayetteFoods

Any suggestions are welcome thank you

---

Could you relocate those restrooms? They should not be near the hot foods. Could you put them in the back. How would you keep the riff raff from loitering around the store. Would I be able to pay my utility bills there with my check. Will the store be fully stock at all times. Does the owner has a credit card so he won't have to get his supplies second hand like the former owner had to do.

Thank you everyone for your responses. A Website will definitely be in the works, as soon as we get rolling. A Grocery delivery service has been brought to our attention but that will be a work in progress. As of now the store hours are looking like Monday-Saturday 8am-9pm and Sunday 9am-7pm..These hours have not been finalized.
As far as the restrooms go...We have already relocated them to the back room. We will do our best on keeping the loitering away. Proper authorities will be notified if the situation cannot be handled. As far as the utility bills go: We will be accepting payments from over 200 billers. There is only a select few that accept checks/money orders through the payment system. As far as the store being fully stocked-our credit is not an issue. The store will be fully stocked at all times. Please keep posting your comments/suggestions . Thank you.

24 hours or at least late hours would be nice. You would be surprised how unreliable some of your competition has been, when it comes to keeping hours, and informing customers of holiday hour changes.

All the larger grocers, and many smaller produce marts and corner stores seem to close at 5pm-9pm around the Downtown area. These hours mean they don't exist for those working a 9am-5pm shift, or a 11am-7pm shift; two very common office shifts Downtown.

Limited home delivery might work, especially for people living in the apartments who don't have access to a car. You might even be able to get away with just doing curb side delivery

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CLAUDE G

Limited home delivery might work, especially for people living in the apartments who don't have access to a car. You might even be able to get away with just doing curb side delivery

---

I wish you could try to open sooner but as long as you open that would be a plus. Maybe more store would open in that mall. Get the owner to shovel the staircase that leads from Lafayette Towers parking lot down to the strip mall. Lots of snow and ice there. Keep the store practical. Home deliveries is a good idea but lets start from the basics first. You will do good in that area alone if you keep everything up to par. Your store by floor space is almost as large as the new Kroger in Grosse Pointe. I say concetrate more on groceries, meats, cleaning, and dairy products first. I would rather have updated meat and dairy on the shelves and freezer than being concern about a hot foods section. Have a butcher on site to cut the fresh meat if needed. Give it that simple "Moms and Pops" feel without all of the fanfare and glitter. Don't try to sale t-shirts and other so-called ghetto items.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DetroitDad

24 hours or at least late hours would be nice. You would be surprised how unreliable some of your competition has been, when it comes to keeping hours, and informing customers of holiday hour changes.

All the larger grocers, and many smaller produce marts and corner stores seem to close at 5pm-9pm around the Downtown area. These hours mean they don't exist for those working a 9am-5pm shift, or a 11am-7pm shift; two very common office shifts Downtown.

---

Clean up the Martin Luther King apartments first and then think about opening 24 hours.

Some of you are really asking a lot out of this guy. Being open 24 hours/day, fully stocked at all times, hot bar, salad bar, organic foods, delivery, bill-paying station, and... competitive pricing!!

And yet, if he runs a "non-union shop," some of you will tear him a new one.

This is great news! I do enjoy the Honeybee, but from the sound of it, this will definitely have more amenities.

Yeah, I'd be willing to come downtown to shop there if the store has quality foods at a reasonable price. Detroit needs more grocery stores indeed!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CLAUDE G

This is good. I got a buddy who lives in Lafayette towers who has mentioned to me that it would be nice to have a place close by to get groceries.

Best of luck when you open

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ravine

Some of you are really asking a lot out of this guy. Being open 24 hours/day, fully stocked at all times, hot bar, salad bar, organic foods, delivery, bill-paying station, and... competitive pricing!!

And yet, if he runs a "non-union shop," some of you will tear him a new one.

---

He had said that he was open for suggestions. You have to admit; the former Foodland wasn't fully stock at anytime. Tansil had started out on the wrong foot. Lance had mentioned that a bill paying station will be inputted. I still say keep it simple with the basic produce, canned and packaged goods, meats, and dairies then grow into serving hot foods and other items when a customer base is established. For God's sake do not start selling t shirts and other clothing items or dollar store type goods out of the store or you would be destine to fail

Lance, as someone who lives within walking distance, I say hooooooooooray for Lafayette Foods!!! Welcome to the neighborhood! Will this store be similar to your other stores? Would you mind giving us the locations of those stores, too?

Thank you all for your comments! It's ok for everyone to express how they feel, I do not have a problem with that. Just so you all understand not everything can or will be the way we want it. We are going to do are best to keep everyone satisfied. The store will be a great store but also keep in mind NO TWO stores are the same. Lets get one thing straight, this will not be ran as a LIQUOR/PARTY STORE [[no t-shirts, lol). Keep the comments coming.
Thanks,
Lance

What? No lottery scratch-offs... or 'looses' [[cigarettes illegally sold individually out of the pack)? LOL --- :D --- !

Just kidding! The store sounds great and much needed. I'm looking forward to the grand opening. Please keep us posted!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LafayetteFoods

Thank you all for your comments! It's ok for everyone to express how they feel, I do not have a problem with that. Just so you all understand not everything can or will be the way we want it. We are going to do are best to keep everyone satisfied. The store will be a great store but also keep in mind NO TWO stores are the same. Lets get one thing straight, this will not be ran as a LIQUOR/PARTY STORE [[no t-shirts, lol). Keep the comments coming.
Thanks,
Lance

---

Lance,

First off congrats on your success so far and best of luck to your new market! This is arguably about the best location for a grocery store in the city limits IMO. You will be walkable [[or at least bikable) to the growing downtown population, lafayette park, the whole elmwood area, and maybe even the w. village/ indian village area and the near east riverfront area. You already have the other major advantage of having experience with the business before but I'm sure there will still be a learning curve involved.

I often hear people bitch that there are no decent grocery stores in the city and usually go on the defense because I know of several that I frequent. Nonetheless, I'll admit that the city is still under served and could always use more. The unfortunate byproduct of this belief is it has helped build the perception of having to head just outside city limits for basic living needs [[see time's project detroit where someone in w village headed to grosse point everyday despite the fact that everything needed was much closer and in the city)

With all that outta the way there are a few things I'd focus on particularly well

1) visibility: You know all those kids moving into downtown? Well most likely if theyre not going to the burbs for groceries they're going to SW or midtown area. Meanwhile your store will now be the closest source and within walking distance. Lure them in and keep them happy and you'll have a stable customer base. Same goes for lafayette park area etc. Make the place easy to see and well lit [[one big problem is some great places aren't obvious unless you know where they are) I think it's also worth doing some advertising in the area [[at least early on so people know you're there)

2) quality: this probably seems obvious too but is worth restating. Many new residents in the area are probably coming from college where every other night ends with a forty and a frozen pizza [[at least this is my personal experience :p) But now people often wish to live long enough to at least watch social security run out so keeping healthy food available and attractive is very important. This would include good quality fruits and veggies, lean fresh meats, and some frozen goods etc. Hopefully your proximity to eastern market makes getting produce easy! I'm not saying avoid junk food entirely but junk food is already pretty easy to find at party stores for jacked up prices. A decent beer and wine selection would also be popular [[but optional)

Those are the major points I have and everyone else has made useful suggestions. I also agree with the sentiment of quality over quality. I wouldn't try to spread yourself too thin at first if it sacrifices the basics. If you do it right I believe you'll be successful and help to slowly chip away at the quality of life issues that plague our fair city. It makes me sick when the local economy takes badly needed money circulation out of the city! That money should be in your pocket! :)

cheers!

Keep your hours consistent. If the store lists open until 8PM, then stay open until 8 even if it is slow.

Too many Detroit businesses use their hours as a basic guideline.

The one suggestion I can give is that you get the word out. I would not know about this if it weren't for this forum. So get it in the News and Free Press, an opening grocery store is always big news in city limits. Do whatever you can to get the word out about groceries in the city limits... I have a lot of friends that still go out to the suburbs to go shopping.

I agree with esp1986. Countless times I have heard people mistakenly complain about the lack of groceries within Detroit. Hopefully you can change people's perceptions. Also, carry craft beer.

Very glad to hear this, as one living across the street at 1300, I can personally attest there is alot of good potential customers in the general area. As long as the shelves are stocked well with good merchandise and produce , the place is CLEAN, and service is good at reasonable prices, I think you will do just fine and keep us customers. We really would appreciate the convenience. I really think if you took one good trip to honey bee market [[[[ a prime role model) that you would see what can be done succesfully. That place is very well ran, great merchandise and always a pleasure to walk in..
Good luck on you store, I and many others really hope it does well.

Thank you all. There's no doubt that the hours of business will be respected from open to close. As of now the store hours are not set in stone. We will heavily advertise prior to the grand opening. It is very important.

Based on the fact that you are on this forum, I have a feeling you are well aware of the types of products and services people in the city have been craving. However, I would like to second the hot food bar, quality deli and meat counter, and fresh bread.

Yes. Clean. Actually clean, not clean as in "smells like cleaning solution." We have a lot of that, here in Detroit.

Also: I understand the need, especially on the part of owners who are not connected to large corporations, to keep overhead costs down, but!!-- speaking of overhead-- do yourself a favor by keeping the store well-lit.
Frequently combined with the odor to which I referred, the dimly-lit look conveys a crummy, sub-standard impression, and I tend to figure that a store whose ownership is too damn cheap to pay for adequate lighting is a store from whom I might expect to see the old "package up some gray-brown meat with some fresh stuff on top of it" stunt.
And keep in mind that many Detroiters, having learned a thing or two from experience, do indeed go to the trouble to check the dates on everything.
And, speaking for myself only, when I see items on which the price-tag has just happened to conveniently end up being directly over the "sell-by" date, I A) automatically assume that the "sell-by" date had already been passed when the item was priced, and B) identify that store as being a low-life operation to which I shall not be returning.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by stasu1213

I wish you could try to open sooner but as long as you open that would be a plus. Maybe more store would open in that mall. Get the owner to shovel the staircase that leads from Lafayette Towers parking lot down to the strip mall. Lots of snow and ice there. Keep the store practical. Home deliveries is a good idea but lets start from the basics first. You will do good in that area alone if you keep everything up to par. Your store by floor space is almost as large as the new Kroger in Grosse Pointe. I say concetrate more on groceries, meats, cleaning, and dairy products first. I would rather have updated meat and dairy on the shelves and freezer than being concern about a hot foods section. Have a butcher on site to cut the fresh meat if needed. Give it that simple "Moms and Pops" feel without all of the fanfare and glitter. Don't try to sale t-shirts and other so-called ghetto items.

---

Amen... says a girl who grew up in the westside ghettos. A commitment to quality is so important. Keeping the store clean, good customer service, and making sure that the produce, meat, and dairy are fresh will go a long way. So many grocers in the city seem to fail on these basic three measures.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LafayetteFoods

Thank you all. There's no doubt that the hours of business will be respected from open to close. As of now the store hours are not set in stone. We will heavily advertise prior to the grand opening. It is very important.

---

Be sure to advertise at my job, Wayne State. Although you're a bit further from Midtown than some of the other stores, you have a fairly large student population there with an increasing number of full time students who reside in the dorms, campus owned apartments, and the area nearby. Many of them drive to the 'burbs to do their shopping, but with a little creative marketing you'd have a great customer base right there.

One of the BEST supermarkets in the city is Honey Bee. If we could get something similar in LP, it would be just great:
http://www.honeybeemkt.com/

You have a great advantage over other grocery stores that are near downtown detroit. You have a gigantic parkling lot in front and on the side of you. People who work at the GM hq, Compuware, BCBS, Quicken Loan, etc could jump in their cars on their lunch break or on the way home and park for free without having to fight for a space. You will be the first true Market in or near downtown Detroit. You will be accesible to all the businesses and residents in and around downtown detroit. The strip mall itself has great potentials. A cafe or coffee shop could open at the other corner where Paris Cafe once was. A sheriffs or police mini station could be in the strip mall also. You anchoring that strip mall could be a magnet to other potential small business and services. Without worrying about Kwame to pay to play with.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by stasu1213

A cafe or coffee shop could open at the other corner where Paris Cafe once was.

---

I know this is off topic, but yes, please! I hope that someone does it. I really miss Paris Cafe.

L.F., Just do what you already know, do it well and make sure the place isn't only clean, but spotlessly clean.

keep the windows clear of advertisements and gaudy banners. clean,clean,clean

Make sure Crains mention your opening a market in that location also

Any suggestions are welcome thank you

Start a Facebook business page. Learn how to effectively use it to communicate with your customers. Ask around if you don't know, you don't want to tick off your clientele. You could have it up and running in less than an hour. You can post every few days about specials, new services, some great new food you're carrying, ask for suggestions, etc. You don't want to overtly sell, like a commercial, rather have a helpful conversation with the people that are or might be your customers. It can generate a lot of buzz.

Its free and the way things are trending, probably more helpful to your business than a webpage [[but have one of those too).

Best of luck to you. I hope you can keep your shrink under control, w/o a police state mentality.

^The way to do that is to offer goods, services, and an ambiance with little appeal to those doing the shrinkage.

It cool to have someone building a market with customer participation. It would be nice if this was common all around the country in towns big and small, you know, [[near) instant feedback. Maybe, this is something that could take off in Detroit, and used as an example for other cities.

The owner of Downtown Foodland was open for suggestions but was unreachable once his market started failing. Lance, you would suceed if you dont follow in that footstep

Thank you everyone. There has been an issue about the "riff raff", loitering, shrink, etc. A mini station [[police station) was suggested and this would be a great idea. I need help on trying to make this happen. Does anyone have any information/leads so I can get this started? I will work directly with the landlord to try and get this done. Thank you.

You said in another thread that the same people operate a grocer on Harper between Whittier and Cadieux. Is it Del Point foods?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LafayetteFoods

Thank you everyone. There has been an issue about the "riff raff", loitering, shrink, etc. A mini station [[police station) was suggested and this would be a great idea. I need help on trying to make this happen. Does anyone have any information/leads so I can get this started? I will work directly with the landlord to try and get this done. Thank you.

---

Give us the name and number of the owner of the strip mall on Lafayette and Orleans and maybe some of us could convince them into giving the Sherriff or police dept low rent just to set up shop in the mall. The strip mall on Mack and Alter has a mini station in it. A station would be a deterrent to crime and will encourage more small businesses to open in the location. If not a police/sherriff station have an area where security or rent-a-cops could be posted

I'm curious, Lance. What's your square footage? I'm not familiar with the location so I'm wondering if your store is "superette" sized [[like a small town IGA for example), or something more akin to a larger grocery store? And, if you can give out that information, whose your distributor?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by douglasm

I'm curious, Lance. What's your square footage? I'm not familiar with the location so I'm wondering if your store is "superette" sized [[like a small town IGA for example), or something more akin to a larger grocery store? And, if you can give out that information, whose your distributor?

---

Excellent question.

I agree with the importance of cleanliness and consistent hours. These are two huge things that will be crucial to your success. The second that customers feel like the store is slipping in consistency and/or quality, they will not come back.

It is a good idea to have a Facebook page and website with store hours, location [[a simple google map insert would be fine), a basic description of the products and services offered, a customer feedback email link, and a few pictures of the exterior and interior of the store. It is important to have a web presence, but it doesn't have to be elaborate or flashy. Simple, clean, and informative is the way to go, and it won't cost much to create and maintain.

I think it is a great idea to visit the other grocery stores in the area, and see what they are doing well and what they are doing poorly. Honeybee is a great place to visit if you want to see a thriving grocer in the city.

It is also a good idea to look around the neighborhood to see what products and services are lacking. Over the last 10 years or so, many chain pharmacies have opened up in the area, so you might want to focus on product lines that are not found in the string of Walgreens, CVS and Rite Aid stores along Jefferson. If you can't beat their hours, prices, and service, it might not be a good idea to go after that segment of the market.

I would also suggest that you don't spread yourself too thin in an attempt to be everything to everyone. It is very tempting to try to fill all of the requests and desires of your potential customers, but you have limited space and resources, so it is better to focus on a few things that you can excel at.

In my opinion, Zaccaro's market on Woodward tried to do too many things, and did not succeed because of it. They had a small store featuring a deli, produce, bakery, wine room, coffee counter, meat counter, etc. It was a nice store, but in my opinion, they did not offer the best selection, service, or prices on anything that they sold.

I would strongly suggest against trying to offer a deli, bakery, butcher, produce, specialty beer and wine, pharmacy, boxed and canned goods, bill paying services, frozen foods, and everything else under the sun. You do not have the space to do all of these things well, so it would be much better to focus on a few of these product lines and services and be the best at what you choose to do.

I look forward to shopping at your store and wish you the best of luck in your endeavor.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LafayetteFoods

Thank you everyone. There has been an issue about the "riff raff", loitering, shrink, etc. A mini station [[police station) was suggested and this would be a great idea. I need help on trying to make this happen. Does anyone have any information/leads so I can get this started? I will work directly with the landlord to try and get this done. Thank you.

---

Got a bakery inside? If so, make fresh donuts and keep fresh coffee on at all times. Let the precincts and MSP know. You'll have more cops than you can shake a stick at.

Sounds like a stereotypical joke, but I'm more than half serious. Cops love freebies. Offer discount coupons to cops and firefighters. Use common sense and apply limits, don't just let them take advantage. Something like 10 or 15% off sales over $50 twice a month.

Make a deal with DFD for discounts to on-duty fire crews for the stations in the area to get them to shop there for their daily chow groceries.

Neighborhood nasties won't like it much if they don't know when PD or FD might show up.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Det_ard

Start a Facebook business page.

---

No, don't do that.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by erikd

I agree with the importance of cleanliness and consistent hours. These are two huge things that will be crucial to your success. The second that customers feel like the store is slipping in consistency and/or quality, they will not come back.

It is a good idea to have a Facebook page and website with store hours, location [[a simple google map insert would be fine), a basic description of the products and services offered, a customer feedback email link, and a few pictures of the exterior and interior of the store. It is important to have a web presence, but it doesn't have to be elaborate or flashy. Simple, clean, and informative is the way to go, and it won't cost much to create and maintain.

I think it is a great idea to visit the other grocery stores in the area, and see what they are doing well and what they are doing poorly. Honeybee is a great place to visit if you want to see a thriving grocer in the city.

It is also a good idea to look around the neighborhood to see what products and services are lacking. Over the last 10 years or so, many chain pharmacies have opened up in the area, so you might want to focus on product lines that are not found in the string of Walgreens, CVS and Rite Aid stores along Jefferson. If you can't beat their hours, prices, and service, it might not be a good idea to go after that segment of the market.

I would also suggest that you don't spread yourself too thin in an attempt to be everything to everyone. It is very tempting to try to fill all of the requests and desires of your potential customers, but you have limited space and resources, so it is better to focus on a few things that you can excel at.

In my opinion, Zaccaro's market on Woodward tried to do too many things, and did not succeed because of it. They had a small store featuring a deli, produce, bakery, wine room, coffee counter, meat counter, etc. It was a nice store, but in my opinion, they did not offer the best selection, service, or prices on anything that they sold.

I would strongly suggest against trying to offer a deli, bakery, butcher, produce, specialty beer and wine, pharmacy, boxed and canned goods, bill paying services, frozen foods, and everything else under the sun. You do not have the space to do all of these things well, so it would be much better to focus on a few of these product lines and services and be the best at what you choose to do.

I look forward to shopping at your store and wish you the best of luck in your endeavor.

---

I was also saying earlier that he should keep it simple for the first year until he develop a steady customer base. Have the basics get the hot foods, coffee shop, and sushi bar later. He would have to hire more employees for that task and in this economy he can't afford to do that. Be simple and concentrate on dairy, meats, fruits and vegetables, canned, and dry goods. I would rather extra money be spent on a rent-a-cop than on a sushi bar with a cook.

Take a trip to Ryan's Market in SW Detroit to see what clean, modest, and helpful looks like.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Meddle

Got a bakery inside? If so, make fresh donuts and keep fresh coffee on at all times. Let the precincts and MSP know. You'll have more cops than you can shake a stick at.

Sounds like a stereotypical joke, but I'm more than half serious. Cops love freebies. Offer discount coupons to cops and firefighters. Use common sense and apply limits, don't just let them take advantage. Something like 10 or 15% off sales over $50 twice a month.

Make a deal with DFD for discounts to on-duty fire crews for the stations in the area to get them to shop there for their daily chow groceries.

Neighborhood nasties won't like it much if they don't know when PD or FD might show up.

---

Someone should open a cafe where doughnuts and coffee are sold. The spot where the Paris Cafe would be good for that. The cops would still come to the area to go to it. I think that the more store that open up in the mall, the more money each store could pool for security of the area

I live about 10 minutes from Lafayette Park...I would love to be able to drive only 10 minutes to get to a full line grocery store that sells quality food at prices that I don't have to get a second job to pay for. The last supermarket that was there was a total flop. I went there once and it smelled like rotting meat...I never went back...So I will go to your market when it opens...I hope I am not disappointed....I don't like going to outside of the city to shop for food...but I will if that's what I have to do to get my groceries....Looking forward to your grand opening.

That's one reason why I asked about floorspace and who the wholesaler would be. Keep in mind a smaller, independent store has to charge higher prices than say, Kroger, if only because it isn't doing the sales volume. What the customer has to consider when making a buying decision is total value. That is, if a can of soup costs $1 at the new store, but only 79 cents somewhere else, how much would it cost you in both time and money to drive to the cheaper location to save a dime. The convenience of a local store can far outweigh the price advantage of a store further away.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Meddle

Got a bakery inside? If so, make fresh donuts and keep fresh coffee on at all times. Let the precincts and MSP know. You'll have more cops than you can shake a stick at.

Sounds like a stereotypical joke, but I'm more than half serious. Cops love freebies. Offer discount coupons to cops and firefighters. Use common sense and apply limits, don't just let them take advantage. Something like 10 or 15% off sales over $50 twice a month.

Make a deal with DFD for discounts to on-duty fire crews for the stations in the area to get them to shop there for their daily chow groceries.

Neighborhood nasties won't like it much if they don't know when PD or FD might show up.

---

Great idea.
People will also feel better shopping there when they see cops in there.

However I would discourage trying to get DFD to show up. A cop can deter crime, but a firefighter probably cannot deter a fire.

Also, speaking from experience, DFD firefighters have shown completely blasted, wasted, fall-down-drunk to places of business I have experience with first thing in the morning enjoying freebees. I think they're great and all, but I'm being serious.

Lamb .....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by douglasm

That's one reason why I asked about floorspace and who the wholesaler would be. Keep in mind a smaller, independent store has to charge higher prices than say, Kroger, if only because it isn't doing the sales volume. What the customer has to consider when making a buying decision is total value. That is, if a can of soup costs $1 at the new store, but only 79 cents somewhere else, how much would it cost you in both time and money to drive to the cheaper location to save a dime. The convenience of a local store can far outweigh the price advantage of a store further away.

---

Totally agree. Also the quality of products and ingredients make a difference. There is a reason why some of the new "hipster" businesses in the city are packed. People know quality when they taste it.

I am 100% with those of you who have recommended this general approach: Start modest [[don't try to do everything, but be good at what you do,) keep the place clean, and do whatever you are able to do in the direction of helping folks to feel reasonably safe. [[One of the worst things is to allow for groups of ne'er-do-wells to loiter around the entrance. That can be a problem which is difficult to solve. I wish I had a sensible suggestion.)

That's the way to build up a customer base, and maybe even a decent reputation that could move people to drive a mile or so just to come to you.
Over-extending yourself at the outset sounds like a good way to lose money from Day One, never get off the ground, and be closed inside of a year and a half.

Some folks seem to want a full-service, low-priced, immaculately clean & brightly lit [[those would be me) store with a full two acres of parking and a 3-man security staff. I understand that, certainly, but the shoppers who want all of that really need to hop in the cars, or onto the bus, or into a cab, and head for Wal-Mart, Meijer, Kroger, whoever. If folks want to avoid that which they perceive to be Evil Empires, they will have some difficult, and expensive, choices to make. Let that be their problem, not yours.

And, as Douglasm pointed out [[although not putting it this way,) anyone with any sense is going to understand why the item that is 0.79 at Kroger is 1.00 at your store.

For years, people have been saying, "we just want a decent grocery store, nearby, that has some fresh food and doesn't stink to High Heaven."
Yep. That's it. So start there, and build to whatever else is within your means.

Design the type of store you'd like to attend. Keep it clean. Have a relaxed inviting atmosphere. Treat customers like you value them. Be open to suggestions on products.


Little side story.

I once went to a Supermarket near the university district I won't name. A pineapple juice carton had a sticker that read 2 for 4 bucks. I grab 4 bottles and head to the chekcout. I get charged 11 dollars, and ask what going on. Turns out some of the bottles were marked down and others were 2.99. The reason? The marked down bottles were expired. They tried to sell me their trash. I walked out, haven't returned since, never will.

Hello DetroitYes family!

I would like to update all of you that Lafayette Foods is coming along great. We should be open within the next month or so. I have talked to many people from the community and everyone seems pretty excited. I have one important question on advertising. Does anyone know a way to advertise to the local towers, besides postal? I ask this because I don't think postal allows mass advertising to the towers, correct me if I am wrong. Even if it takes a drop off in the lobby or on a bulliten board, ect to advertise, please let me know.
Thank You,
Lance
Lafayette Foods

lafayettefoods@gmail.com

Try the free circulars: Detroit Monitor, Metro Times

You should also set up a bare bones website so that when residents, workers, or visitors Google "supermarket Detroit" or "groceries downtown Detroit" or "stores Lafayette Park" your store comes up in the first 3 results. Have your store hours and location [[address, phone, and link to a Google map) available on the home page or within one click. In an iPhone and Blackberry world, this is essential.

You NEED to send a press release to Model D Media, Metro Times, and Real Detroit. Most likely, they will plug your store for free on their websites and in their publications. I would also send a press release to Crain's Detroit- possibly Bill Shea, Nathan Skid, or Nancy Kaffer. Send a letter to the Detroit News and Free Press. Send an email to Jeff Wattrick or Jonathan Oosting who blog for MLive.com. These are my sources of information in the city, other than word of mouth.

You might also want to have a stand at Eastern Market with fliers letting people know you are open for business and give out some free food samples.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BrushStart

You might also want to have a stand at Eastern Market with fliers letting people know you are open for business and give out some free food samples.

---

Totally agree. Also consider a stall at the WSU Farmers Market on Wednesday afternoons. Last year, the only folks selling prepared foods there were the Russell Street Deli folks, and they regularly sold out. I am sure they generated new business and made money.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LafayetteFoods

lafayettefoods@gmail.com

---

I was afraid that the city was putting you through a lot of red tape. Do you think that you will open with a couple of weeks? You could ask the management at Lafayette Towers if you cay place flyers inside the mailroom of both towers. Their number is 313-567-6100. Place flyers in the lobbies of all the coops and apartment buildings around lafayette park

Thank you all for your suggestions. We are aiming for middle/end of next month, thats if everything goes as plan.

Are you getting a lot of red tape from the city while trying to open?

Fortunately we have not encountered the almighty red tape. We are taking are time with the store bc we do not want to rush the opening. It is crucial to us and the community we open the doors on a positive note.
[[everything is coming along)

lafayettefoods will be opening soon

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LafayetteFoods

lafayettefoods will be opening soon

---

Good! Now my friend who live in lafayette park and other who live in the area could shop there for memorial day. You will make a huge profit during the time

I am proud to say Lafayette Foods will be open Monday June 6th 2011 8:00am. Please remember if you have any suggestions, concerns, or questions during or after your shopping experience let us know.
Thank You
Lance
lafayettefoods@gmial.com

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LafayetteFoods

I am proud to say Lafayette Foods will be open Monday June 6th 2011 8:00am. Please remember if you have any suggestions, concerns, or questions during or after your shopping experience let us know.
Thank You
Lance
lafayettefoods@gmial.com

---

I was told friday