In conjunction with the store’s grand opening on Wednesday, Meijer officials announced the new Bridge Street Market in Grand Rapids will be donating $5000 to five west side community organizations, including Other Way Ministries. Executive Director and Grand Rapids City Commissioner Kurt Reppart says, the gift speaks volumes.
“I’m thrilled," Reppart said. "They have already started to discuss ways that they can partner with the Other Way around our food programming, and I know they have done the same for the other charities, so we couldn’t be more thrilled.”
The new Meijer owned Bridge Street Market in Grand Rapids is the company’s first neighborhood style grocery store format. Meijer officials say the Bridge Street Market aims to higher local workers, sell local products, and be a positive impact on the West Side community.
This fall, the Inner City Christian Foundation in partnership with Rockford Construction will break ground on a new apartment complex called Stockbridge Apartments. Located adjacent to the Bridge Street Market, 51 out of the 64 new apartments will be reserved for lower income renters. ICCF President and CEO Ryan VerWys says, it’s all about being “intentionally inclusive.”
“So often when development happens people who are on the economic margins get pushed out and as investment comes back into communities," VerWys said. "We need to be really careful to make sure that there are ways for people to stay and enjoy the reinvestment that is happening.”
Meanwhile, Meijer officials this week announced plans to open a second smaller neighborhood grocery store in downtown Lansing.
