As of late, many of Detroit’s developments have been “big” – a new Lawrence Tech building, the Whole Foods, multiple square blocks of Brush Park, and the new Red Wings arena. But the fun – and the signs of real life – are in the small.
To that end, Parker Street Market, the hidden West Village corner store adored by Detroit foodies, has only been on the scene a little more than a year, but it is already expanding 700 sq. ft. by the end of the summer. This will at least triple 1the store’s inventory. It has come a long way from working on consignment with vendors to stock its shelves.
Shopping at Parker Street Market feels like shopping in an upscale New York City bodega. Owner David Kirby stocks uniquely hyper-local treasures like chocolates from BonBonBon and sandwiches from Rose’s Fine Foods, and other products usually found at good farmers markets. In fact, that is how Parker Street Market got started.
Kirby is from New York City. His partner is Caitlin James, co-owner of raw juice company DROUGHT with her sisters. Caitlin’s experience talking to vendors at local farmers markets, made it obvious how badly vendors needed a place to display their products for sale. Parker Street started from that need.
David wants to eventually turn his bodega into more, complete with fresh produce and eggs. The expansion will mark a new chapter for the storefront.
It means more shelves, bigger brands and mostly importantly, more space for Michigan vendors. Getting into Parker Street Market has been mutually beneficial for Detroit’s small businesses, as they have gone on to display their products in more grocery stores like Plum Market.
