Grocery Store Survey

Over 2,000 people had opinions on which grocery store they would like to have in the White Lake Commons shopping center at the corner of Dixie Highway and White Lake Road, according to Penny Shanks, Executive Director of the Clarkston Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber of Commerce had an online survey for residents to answer questions about a grocery store to replace Farmer Jacks. Shanks told the Independence Township Board of Trustees, at their June 1st meeting. Whole Foods was the most popular choice for a new store of residents answering the online survey gaining almost 42 percent of the votes. Trader Joe's, Nino Salvaggio's, and Papa Joe's food stores each received approximately 22 percent of the votes followed by VGs at 15 percent and HIllers at 12 percent.

The shopping center has been without a grocery store since 2007 when Farmer Jack's closed their southeast Michigan stores.

Residents said it was very important to have another grocery store in Clarkston and gave reasons such as competition, increased selection and quality, convenience, healthier choices and more organic foods, not having to drive so far for increased selections and the need for more vegetarian, gluten-free and whole food options.

The questionnaire asked about having a gas station as part of the grocery store and almost 50 percent of the respondents said it was not important.

The Chamber made a presentation to VGs which is part of the Spartan stores in Grand Rapids with the information.

Shanks told the board, that the grocery stores need better demographics about the Clarkston area. They want to know where people work, how far do they travel to work, and education levels. "Whole Foods doesn't see Clarkston as having the right demographics," according to Shanks. She told the board that the headquarters personnel of the grocery stores read the headlines and see southeast Michigan on the downturn by out of state companies.

Shanks shared that Clarkston is viewed as a town with many Chrysler employees. According to Shanks, prior to 2009, Chrysler had 12,000 employees working at the headquarters building, in November 2009 that number had shrunk to 6,000 and two weeks ago the number was back to 10,000 employees in the building. Southeast Michigan may be doing better than the national headlines according to Shanks.

Keep tuned to Inside Independence and share your thoughts about the needs for businesses in Clarkston at Inside Independence.