Whole Foods holds groundbreaking for Detroit market

20,000-square-foot supermarket to go up in Midtown, open in 2013

DETROIT – Whole Foods broke ground Monday morning at the site of its new market in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood.
Mayor Dave Bing, Sen. Debbie Stabenow and Whole Foods Market co-chief executive Walter Robb were on hand to take part in the ceremony.

Local 4 anchor Rhonda Walker also emceed the event.

The Austin, Texas-based retailer plans to open a 20,000-square-foot supermarket with about 75 employees next year. The company began looking at Midtown in 2010.


Midtown is one of the few areas in the city that is seeing population growth. It is anchored by Wayne State University, the Detroit Medical Center, the Detroit Institute of Arts and Orchestra Hall.
Whole Foods also would fill a grocery void in the area. Detroiters have long complained about having few places to buy fresh fruit, vegetables and produce.