(Flint, Mich.) — The day the North Flint community has been waiting for is finally here. After more than a decade of dreaming, planning and building, the North Flint Food Market (NFFM) will officially open its doors to the public on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at noon.
A short dedication program will begin at 11:40 a.m., with community members encouraged to gather at 11:30 a.m. The ceremony will include remarks from NFFM Board Chair Brigitte Brown Jackson, General Manager Patricia Wright, and Co-Founder Rev. Dr. Reginald Flynn, followed by a ribbon cutting. Founding elders and key community stakeholders will be recognized for their role in bringing this long-awaited project to life.
“This is a moment of pride for our community,” said 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.”
The North Flint Food Market, located at 5402 Clio Road in Flint, is a community-owned cooperative grocery store designed to provide healthy, affordable food and reinvest profits back into the neighborhood. While anyone is welcome to shop at the store, member-owners have a voice in store decisions and a shared stake in its success.
Individuals interested in joining the co-op can apply online through this link.
Unlike traditional grocery chains that may be in the community but not of the community, NFFM is owned and operated by the residents, organizations and businesses. The co-op model ensures that proceeds from the store benefit local programs, educational workshops and events designed to strengthen the community from within.
“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 is part of a larger vision to transform this area of North Flint.”
A Grand Opening Celebration is also being planned for Saturday, January 17, 2026. More details will be announced soon.
The North Flint Food Market’s mission is to provide healthy, affordable food, create meaningful job opportunities and empower residents through community ownership.
For more information about the store, visit www.northflintfoodmarket.org, follow @NFFMKT on Facebook, or call (810) 620-1974.
