DETROIT – Nestled inside the Durfee Innovation Society building on Detroit’s west side, Kandie’s Mini Mart may be easy to miss -- but customers say the community-focused store is making a big impact.
“We are a hidden gem,” said Jacquisha Blackwell, the young entrepreneur behind the mini mart.
Blackwell expanded her sandwich shop and catering business to include a small-format grocery operation offering fresh produce and other essentials after noticing food access challenges in the neighborhood.
“I don’t want to say any names, but you have grocery stores that’s come and just have expired things and, you know, overpricing,” Blackwell said. “And we came here to not overprice. We came here to literally have affordable things for the community.”
The hybrid site is designed to give nearby residents -- especially seniors and families -- more convenient options for fresh foods, including produce, baked goods and grab-and-go items.
Blackwell also encourages customers to help shape what the store carries.
“Just to talk about how we input our community into the store, we have this sign, where we allow them to put different things that they want to see,” she said.
Kandie’s Mini Mart was able to expand with the help of a $25,000 grant from Detroit’s Green Grocer Program, managed by the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) in partnership with the City of Detroit. The funding helped the business purchase refrigerators and shelving.
“I always tell people, nobody knows the gaps, nobody knows the opportunities in Detroit like Detroiters,” said Sean Gray, Senior Vice President of small business services at the DEGC.
Gray said the Green Grocer Program began more than a decade ago with the goal of attracting larger grocery stores but has evolved to support small-format operations like Kandie’s that provide fresh food in neighborhoods across the city.
“Green Grocer is going to touch every single district of this city with small format grocery stores that are offering fresh high-quality food and owned by people that are passionate about supporting their neighborhood,” Gray said.
Regular customer Ila Herron said Kandie’s Mini Mart has become a go-to spot for people of all ages.
“It’s awesome, because you can come in here and get all of this stuff,” Herron said. “It’s teenagers. It’s babies after school that come in here. High school kids. Grown folks. They made a big difference.”
Organizers say there are currently 18 Green Grocer Program sites across Detroit, with more expected to open in the coming months.
To learn more about Green Grocer and other small business programs, click here.