Long before Whole Foods promised to swoop into the Detroit "food desert" and save hungry midtown from starving, Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe planned to open as an independent food market in midtown. Last February, we were told that it would open by May. It's still not open. With Whole Foods planning to open in 2013, will Ye Olde step up and plan to beat the behemoth? Curbed Detroit emailed Michael Solaka who owns the store with his brother Peter to find out. Results? Mysterious!
Says Solaka, "Our improvements, and all necessary approvals are complete. We hope to open this year. We are glad Whole Foods is coming because it makes us look like we knew what we were doing to open our store (kidding). We will serve a niche as a smaller family run operation and could never compete head on with a 30,000 square foot store of that quality." Solaka will not give an updated opening date and states that, "the remaining hurdles are not in our control." Asked what exactly they are, he responds, "No comment."
· Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe to open in Detroit’s Midtown [Crain's]
· Former Zacarro's grocery store to be reborn as Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe [Model D]
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