Washington — Tiny profit margins, financing problems and uneven buying trends make it difficult to keep a grocery open in Detroit.
Upscale grocer Zaccaro's Market shut down on Woodward south of the Detroit Institute of Arts in February, after development officials tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate the business with a low-interest loan. The Downtown Foodland also started with a healthy dose of financial help, but didn't make it either, despite what many experts cited as a prime location.
The uphill battle for grocers in Detroit has been well-documented. The declining population, which makes business growth difficult, and crime — real or perceived — has driven many customers to the suburbs.
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