FLINT, Mich. — After more than a decade of delays and financial setbacks a long-planned food cooperative is finally set to open its doors.
The North Flint Food Market (NFFM) will officially open at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025.
“This is a moment of pride for our community,” said NFFM Board Chair Brigitte Brown Jackson. “We’ve worked toward this day for more than ten years, and now our members finally have the store they built together. This is Ujamaa — cooperative economics — in action. We Own It.”
Located at 5402 Clio Road in Flint, the North Flint Food Market is a community-owned cooperative grocery store aimed at providing healthy, affordable food and reinvesting profits back into the neighborhood.
A short dedication ceremony will begin at 11:40 a.m. The program will include remarks from Brigitte Brown Jackson, General Manager Patricia Wright, and Co-Founder Rev. Dr. Reginald Flynn, followed by a ribbon cutting.
“This store is more than a place to buy groceries — it’s a symbol of empowerment and unity,” said Flynn. “It’s proof that when a community believes in itself, anything is possible. It’s part of a larger vision to transform this area of North Flint.”
Unlike traditional grocery chains, NFFM is owned and operated by Flint residents, organizations and local businesses. Profits will support community programs, educational workshops, and events that promote economic empowerment and self-sufficiency, according to market officials.
The project broke ground in August 2021 but has faced multiple delays, including supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This past May, the Mott Foundation committed an additional $1.5 million to the project. The foundation had previously awarded $2.1 million in 2021 and 2022 to support construction and general operations, bringing its total contribution to $3.6 million.
While the store will be open to everyone, member-owners will have a voice in decision-making and share in the store’s success.
A grand opening celebration is planned for Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. Additional details will be announced at a later date.
For more information, visit www.northflintfoodmarket.org, follow @NFFMKT on Facebook, or call 810-620-1974.
10 years (with plenty of excuses) to open a grocery store? Don’t feel too bad. It took the socialists nearly 20 years to turn Venezuela from one of the richest countries in the world to a hellhole where people eat their pets. Mamdami would be proud. ( I dare you to publish this, you are afraid of the truth.)