After receiving word that Zaccaro's was closing, I decided to swing by there yesterday to see what sort of going-out-of-business sales I could snag. First of all, the place was packed--news of the sale had apparently spread quickly. EVERYTHING store-wide is being sold at 20% off...which pretty much makes the pricing on-par with a more savings-oriented grocery store, though a $6.00 chocolate bar is still a $5.00 chocolate bar after the discount (but where else can you buy organic Chilean chocolate?). Wine, cheese, their whole assortment of unique dining accoutrements...it's all got to go, and you have until the 19th.
When I was there the cheese was already almost gone (don't worry! I still got plenty! NOW it's gone.) and the wine selections were pretty overpicked...there was a Priorat and a Port I just couldn't justify the money on, even at 20% off, but there were few left. They're out of produce, the lunch counter has sold through most of their fixin's, and the pastries won't last long, but non-perishables and bottled liquids (organic juice, hand-crafted beer, real cane sugar soda) are still aplenty and are high-end at low-end prices. Stop by for your chance to take advantage of one of the good things that happened to Detroit that just wasn't meant to last. Robert Frost may have been right when he said "Nothing gold can stay;" still, I wish it could have made it just a little longer.
Showing posts with label Zaccaro's Market. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Zaccaro's Market. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Two More Victims of Hard Times: MCB and Zaccaro's
The trendy (and, alas, pricey and poorly managed) Mercury Coffee Bar has closed its doors temporarily to "retool." I've been hearing tales of their woes pretty much since they opened, so this comes as no tremendous surprise, but it is still unfortunate. Let's hope the second time's the charm, since there's nowhere else in the city or suburbs where we can get genuine slow coffee.
The equally trendy and pricey Zaccaro's Market will also be closing due to "slow sales." This gourmet grocer, the Big Buzz of Spring '08, had all the right ideas in place including top-notch wines, cheeses, pastries, and coffees, a full line of organic food items, as well as a cafe with free Wi-Fi for mingling, working, and noshing. I had really hoped this one would be a success, but in this place at this time...well, as much as people might have been excited that a gourmet grocer had opened in the city, no one had the money to shop there. In time, I hope Cindy Warner or someone with her same ambitions and goals takes up the slack and tries again as I do think in a better economy there is a market here for such a place, but for right now we all must weather the storm with Meijer-brand. Best of luck to you Cindy, and thanks for trying.
The equally trendy and pricey Zaccaro's Market will also be closing due to "slow sales." This gourmet grocer, the Big Buzz of Spring '08, had all the right ideas in place including top-notch wines, cheeses, pastries, and coffees, a full line of organic food items, as well as a cafe with free Wi-Fi for mingling, working, and noshing. I had really hoped this one would be a success, but in this place at this time...well, as much as people might have been excited that a gourmet grocer had opened in the city, no one had the money to shop there. In time, I hope Cindy Warner or someone with her same ambitions and goals takes up the slack and tries again as I do think in a better economy there is a market here for such a place, but for right now we all must weather the storm with Meijer-brand. Best of luck to you Cindy, and thanks for trying.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Zaccaro's...Again.
Originally published in D-Tales here.
I was just at Zaccaro's Market again for the first time since the last time...which was back when they opened...whenever that was...the months blur.
Sorry.
Anyway, I decided to swing by to see what's new, what's changed, what's good, what's better. And what did I find?
Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick!
Yep, Kwame also decided to swing by the Market to check it out. He's been there several times before, though, as I gathered through casually chatting with him. Charming guy; very personable. Good sense of humor, too:
Mayor Kilpatrick: "How are you today?"
D-Tales: "Good; how about you?"
MK: "Oh...well, you know, as good as can be!" (Laughs)
D-Tales: "Like with the heat outside?" (Also laughing)
MK: "Well, I don't so much mind the heat outside!"
A shared knowing laugh ensued.
You gotta give it to him...he, too, has moxy. And it was pretty funny...
As for Zaccaro's, I found that the place has indeed changed since the first time I was in there.
The cheese counter is finally up to snuff--there are brief lists taped to the outer glass which list the cheeses by type (washed rind, French cream, blue-veined, etc.) as well as the price per pound. I walked out with some Tallegio and Borgonzola (yes, with a "B"--it's Canadian...um, not that that explains it or anything), which made me very happy. Not a HUGE huge selection, but just funky enough to be noteworthy.
They also finally sell wine, which I knew about but still hadn't made the trek ALL THE WAY to Midtown to investigate.
They've got an adorable little wine cellar in the back with a small but varied selection of wines. They do stock of fair share of Michigan-made wines, in keeping with their promise of local-centric items (they also sell Vivio's famous Bloody Mary mix, as well as Snug Harbor's, a restaurant I've been to out in Grand Haven and was super-geeked to see represented there). I didn't take as much time to peruse the wines as I would have liked since I didn't want my cheeses to get too warm, but a brief scan showed that most wines are priced under $20.00 (hell, most are under $15.00), the selection is very boutique with a wide assortment of producers and varietals, and they do have the occasional stand-out big name such as an Amarone della Valpolicella priced at $69.00 (which is in the median range for this style).
The resident sommelier is very friendly and eager to assist you with your wine purchase and just simply speak about the wines and show you other wines you might be interested in based on your selections. Zaccaro's also offers 15% off wine purchases of 6 bottles or more--perfect for stocking the cellar, building a collection, throwing a party, or just keeping your personal stash stocked for the next month (I mean, hey, if you're going to drink it anyway...).
There is also an olive bar by the wine cellar, which I don't know if I just didn't notice it before but hey--kinda cool. Made me want a martini. And Meditteranean food.
The staff at Zaccaro's was very friendly, too--even moreso than I remember from last time (they were friendly then but also seemed a bit jittery). The guys at the deli counter were especially helpful and willing to chat, as were the people working the cash registers. They all made me feel right at home. I left there feeling less like I just went shopping at a high-end market and more like I had just made my weekly visit to my local mom-and-pop grocer where everyone knows my name and asks about my job and family.
So, on a second go-round, I'm much more impressed than I was previously and look forward to going back. AND they're open later than R. Hirt (which is actually why I went there in the first place). AND the mayor shops there...which some of you may or may not care about, even violently so, but I was still like "OMFG it's the mayor!"
I was just at Zaccaro's Market again for the first time since the last time...which was back when they opened...whenever that was...the months blur.
Sorry.
Anyway, I decided to swing by to see what's new, what's changed, what's good, what's better. And what did I find?
Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick!
Yep, Kwame also decided to swing by the Market to check it out. He's been there several times before, though, as I gathered through casually chatting with him. Charming guy; very personable. Good sense of humor, too:
Mayor Kilpatrick: "How are you today?"
D-Tales: "Good; how about you?"
MK: "Oh...well, you know, as good as can be!" (Laughs)
D-Tales: "Like with the heat outside?" (Also laughing)
MK: "Well, I don't so much mind the heat outside!"
A shared knowing laugh ensued.
You gotta give it to him...he, too, has moxy. And it was pretty funny...
As for Zaccaro's, I found that the place has indeed changed since the first time I was in there.
The cheese counter is finally up to snuff--there are brief lists taped to the outer glass which list the cheeses by type (washed rind, French cream, blue-veined, etc.) as well as the price per pound. I walked out with some Tallegio and Borgonzola (yes, with a "B"--it's Canadian...um, not that that explains it or anything), which made me very happy. Not a HUGE huge selection, but just funky enough to be noteworthy.
They also finally sell wine, which I knew about but still hadn't made the trek ALL THE WAY to Midtown to investigate.
They've got an adorable little wine cellar in the back with a small but varied selection of wines. They do stock of fair share of Michigan-made wines, in keeping with their promise of local-centric items (they also sell Vivio's famous Bloody Mary mix, as well as Snug Harbor's, a restaurant I've been to out in Grand Haven and was super-geeked to see represented there). I didn't take as much time to peruse the wines as I would have liked since I didn't want my cheeses to get too warm, but a brief scan showed that most wines are priced under $20.00 (hell, most are under $15.00), the selection is very boutique with a wide assortment of producers and varietals, and they do have the occasional stand-out big name such as an Amarone della Valpolicella priced at $69.00 (which is in the median range for this style).
The resident sommelier is very friendly and eager to assist you with your wine purchase and just simply speak about the wines and show you other wines you might be interested in based on your selections. Zaccaro's also offers 15% off wine purchases of 6 bottles or more--perfect for stocking the cellar, building a collection, throwing a party, or just keeping your personal stash stocked for the next month (I mean, hey, if you're going to drink it anyway...).
There is also an olive bar by the wine cellar, which I don't know if I just didn't notice it before but hey--kinda cool. Made me want a martini. And Meditteranean food.
The staff at Zaccaro's was very friendly, too--even moreso than I remember from last time (they were friendly then but also seemed a bit jittery). The guys at the deli counter were especially helpful and willing to chat, as were the people working the cash registers. They all made me feel right at home. I left there feeling less like I just went shopping at a high-end market and more like I had just made my weekly visit to my local mom-and-pop grocer where everyone knows my name and asks about my job and family.
So, on a second go-round, I'm much more impressed than I was previously and look forward to going back. AND they're open later than R. Hirt (which is actually why I went there in the first place). AND the mayor shops there...which some of you may or may not care about, even violently so, but I was still like "OMFG it's the mayor!"
Friday, May 9, 2008
Booze at Zaccaro's
Originally published in D-Tales here.
By 5:00PM today you will be able to get beer and wine and Zaccaro's Market.
This has been a public service announcement.
By 5:00PM today you will be able to get beer and wine and Zaccaro's Market.
This has been a public service announcement.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Zaccaro's Market Now Open!
Originally published in D-Tales here.
Zaccaro's Market, Detroiters' new destination for all their high-end grocery needs, just opened for business last Thursday, and I finally got the chance to swing over there earlier this week.
This place has loads and loads of potential, and I have no doubt that it will one day be every inch as cool as all the early buzz made it sound. But...and there's always a but...right now they still seem to be working through some opening-week kinks.
It would seem that the produce and imported meats and cheeses sections aren't quite, er, fully stocked yet. A gander at the meat and cheese counter, with blocks just kind of thrown about haphazardly and seemingly nothing pre-cut, makes me think (a) this doesn't look like 100 different varieties of somewhat-hard-to-come-by imports, and (b) this doesn't look quite done. The produce section was teeny-tiny--which is fine, considering that this isn't quite a produce market, but simply a high end grocer that carries a little of everything and a lot of nothing--but it was so teeny-tiny that I'm inclined to think that it is still being stocked, too. (Unless they just plan on selling oranges and lettuce and strawberries, but I find that unlikely.)
The wine bar, coffee bar, and demonstration kitchen all look great, but during the time I was there (3:30PM) it didn't really seem like very much was going on at any of them (I'm not even entirely sure they're all functional yet, though there is a drink menu at the "Expresso Bar"--a choice of spelling I truly hope was self-consciously kitschy).
I think where Zaccaro's most won me over was in the chocolates and pastries. I'm typically more of a cheese girl than a sweets girl, so an impressive cheese counter and nothing more would have had me singing their praises endlessly...but, since that was a bit disappointing (though I did find a tasty pre-packaged garlic-infused cheddar in the fridge section), I saw the potential in the pastries instead.
There is a wide selection of imported bar chocolate in pretty much every flavor imaginable (including chocolate made with chili peppers), perfect for the hoighty-toighty chocoholic. But don't let the sizes fool you--I saw some 1-oz. bars priced as much as $5.50 (these are imported from all over the world, and expensive even in their home countries to begin with). For a person who is out seeking the United Colors of Benetton in chocolate bars, Zaccaro's is the place to go--even more so than Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and other larger gourmet grocer national chains (who have more money and thus more product which includes more imports), and it is only with the chocolate that this can be said.
Then there is the pastry and bread counter. Some pastries are made in-store, including the cookies and a tasty raspberry-cheesecake-brownie treat I indulged in. Not the bestest ever, but quite tasty. Then there are the wide assortment of hand-rolled chocolate truffles, the highly decorative mousses and tortes, and other visually impressive pastries that are shipped from the Give Thanks Bakery and Cafe in Rochester, MI. Pastry Chef Rick Michaels is particularly skilled in German pastries and ornate decorations of cakes and tortes, and it shows in the small selection on display at Zaccaro's. Plus, added props for the utilization of an independently-owned Michigan bakery (though I'm sure some will gripe about Zaccaro's tapping the Oakland County market instead of keepin' it real with a bakery in the D, but...meh). The artisan breads sold at Zaccaro's also hail from the same bakery (the Wah-Wah Crowd: "But why not use Detroit locals like Avalon Breads, or a Mexicantown Bakery, especially since they need the business now more than ever?" No one's ever happy.), and are made in the traditions of classical French and German baking with only the purest and simplest of ingredients. And they make an Asino Cheese & Garlic bread! Mm-mmmm!!!!!
Little things like labels and price points for each item on display still need to be rectified, but again--they've only been open a week.
The wine is apparently still a no-go (I know owner Cindy Warner has been battling it out with the guv-ment to try to get her license to sell wine in time for the opening, but it doesn't quite seem like it happened. Unless I completely missed a section of the store.), though I will be very interested to see (a) what wines they decide to stock, from what regions and what vintages, and (b) what these wines will be priced.
One arena in which a place like Whole Foods simply cannot be beat is their impressive wine selection at very reasonable prices, something a small, independently owned place like Zaccaro's probably won't be able to pull off. But hey, Zaccaro's took a chance on the city and Whole Foods didn't, so :P.
Other points of interest: Zaccaro's is definitely catering to the Go Granola! crowd...lots of organics, lots of soy. There is a nice, if small, selection of imported coffees and teas. There is a variety of boutique-y food-prep accents--sauces and marinades and jellies and condiments you wouldn't be able to find just anywhere. A packaged of dried Chanterelles had me drooling until I remembered that I don't cook. And there is also a pre-packaged meals area when you first enter where you can buy pre-made sandwiches, salads (lettuce, pasta), etc. There is also a made-to-order panini counter, which I just think is all cool and Euro. I'm really glad Americans have caught on to the greatness that is the panini. Now if I could just find a decent chocolate brioche...
One thing that might deter some folks from shopping regularly at Zaccaro's is the price pointing. It's, ah...it's not very cheap. Did I mention the $5.50 chocolate bar? Or how about the $4.50 organic milk? (It's $3.50 at Meijer.) Or the $3.50 package of table water crackers? ($1.99 at Meijer.) And someone else told me there was a pasta salad priced at $7.00/lb., yikes. But...BUT...we must bear in mind that this place is independently owned, there is no other place like this place anyone near this place, and sometimes we must pay more for convenience.
Besides...the people living in the $250,000 lofts just north of the place can probably afford to shell out the extra few bucks.
In short...my first impression of Zaccaros' Market was one of promise. Not bowled-over impressed, but definitely interested. I'm greatly looking forward to seeing the wine selection, and perhaps even being able to chat with the sommelier. And the events Warner plans on having in-store--cooking demonstrations, *I believe* wine tastings, etc.--will really add to the appeal. It's set up quite nicely and can accommodate a medium-sized crowd for such gatherings, as well having all the makings of a great morning coffee spot and afternoon lunch spot. The décor is very loft-modern (minimalist, with drab concrete floors but highly-polished granite countertops and chrome accents). Overall--pricey though it may be, it's a great addition to our city.
Hel-lo, Zaccaro's!
SIDEBAR: Locals are very likely to run into people they know. I ran into Jerry, owner of the Park Bar, while I was there. Other people I know ran into other Park Bar regulars. It's a small city. You really can't throw a stone or buy bread without running into someone you've spent an evening drinking with.
Zaccaro's Market, Detroiters' new destination for all their high-end grocery needs, just opened for business last Thursday, and I finally got the chance to swing over there earlier this week.
This place has loads and loads of potential, and I have no doubt that it will one day be every inch as cool as all the early buzz made it sound. But...and there's always a but...right now they still seem to be working through some opening-week kinks.
It would seem that the produce and imported meats and cheeses sections aren't quite, er, fully stocked yet. A gander at the meat and cheese counter, with blocks just kind of thrown about haphazardly and seemingly nothing pre-cut, makes me think (a) this doesn't look like 100 different varieties of somewhat-hard-to-come-by imports, and (b) this doesn't look quite done. The produce section was teeny-tiny--which is fine, considering that this isn't quite a produce market, but simply a high end grocer that carries a little of everything and a lot of nothing--but it was so teeny-tiny that I'm inclined to think that it is still being stocked, too. (Unless they just plan on selling oranges and lettuce and strawberries, but I find that unlikely.)
The wine bar, coffee bar, and demonstration kitchen all look great, but during the time I was there (3:30PM) it didn't really seem like very much was going on at any of them (I'm not even entirely sure they're all functional yet, though there is a drink menu at the "Expresso Bar"--a choice of spelling I truly hope was self-consciously kitschy).
I think where Zaccaro's most won me over was in the chocolates and pastries. I'm typically more of a cheese girl than a sweets girl, so an impressive cheese counter and nothing more would have had me singing their praises endlessly...but, since that was a bit disappointing (though I did find a tasty pre-packaged garlic-infused cheddar in the fridge section), I saw the potential in the pastries instead.
There is a wide selection of imported bar chocolate in pretty much every flavor imaginable (including chocolate made with chili peppers), perfect for the hoighty-toighty chocoholic. But don't let the sizes fool you--I saw some 1-oz. bars priced as much as $5.50 (these are imported from all over the world, and expensive even in their home countries to begin with). For a person who is out seeking the United Colors of Benetton in chocolate bars, Zaccaro's is the place to go--even more so than Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and other larger gourmet grocer national chains (who have more money and thus more product which includes more imports), and it is only with the chocolate that this can be said.
Then there is the pastry and bread counter. Some pastries are made in-store, including the cookies and a tasty raspberry-cheesecake-brownie treat I indulged in. Not the bestest ever, but quite tasty. Then there are the wide assortment of hand-rolled chocolate truffles, the highly decorative mousses and tortes, and other visually impressive pastries that are shipped from the Give Thanks Bakery and Cafe in Rochester, MI. Pastry Chef Rick Michaels is particularly skilled in German pastries and ornate decorations of cakes and tortes, and it shows in the small selection on display at Zaccaro's. Plus, added props for the utilization of an independently-owned Michigan bakery (though I'm sure some will gripe about Zaccaro's tapping the Oakland County market instead of keepin' it real with a bakery in the D, but...meh). The artisan breads sold at Zaccaro's also hail from the same bakery (the Wah-Wah Crowd: "But why not use Detroit locals like Avalon Breads, or a Mexicantown Bakery, especially since they need the business now more than ever?" No one's ever happy.), and are made in the traditions of classical French and German baking with only the purest and simplest of ingredients. And they make an Asino Cheese & Garlic bread! Mm-mmmm!!!!!
Little things like labels and price points for each item on display still need to be rectified, but again--they've only been open a week.
The wine is apparently still a no-go (I know owner Cindy Warner has been battling it out with the guv-ment to try to get her license to sell wine in time for the opening, but it doesn't quite seem like it happened. Unless I completely missed a section of the store.), though I will be very interested to see (a) what wines they decide to stock, from what regions and what vintages, and (b) what these wines will be priced.
One arena in which a place like Whole Foods simply cannot be beat is their impressive wine selection at very reasonable prices, something a small, independently owned place like Zaccaro's probably won't be able to pull off. But hey, Zaccaro's took a chance on the city and Whole Foods didn't, so :P.
Other points of interest: Zaccaro's is definitely catering to the Go Granola! crowd...lots of organics, lots of soy. There is a nice, if small, selection of imported coffees and teas. There is a variety of boutique-y food-prep accents--sauces and marinades and jellies and condiments you wouldn't be able to find just anywhere. A packaged of dried Chanterelles had me drooling until I remembered that I don't cook. And there is also a pre-packaged meals area when you first enter where you can buy pre-made sandwiches, salads (lettuce, pasta), etc. There is also a made-to-order panini counter, which I just think is all cool and Euro. I'm really glad Americans have caught on to the greatness that is the panini. Now if I could just find a decent chocolate brioche...
One thing that might deter some folks from shopping regularly at Zaccaro's is the price pointing. It's, ah...it's not very cheap. Did I mention the $5.50 chocolate bar? Or how about the $4.50 organic milk? (It's $3.50 at Meijer.) Or the $3.50 package of table water crackers? ($1.99 at Meijer.) And someone else told me there was a pasta salad priced at $7.00/lb., yikes. But...BUT...we must bear in mind that this place is independently owned, there is no other place like this place anyone near this place, and sometimes we must pay more for convenience.
Besides...the people living in the $250,000 lofts just north of the place can probably afford to shell out the extra few bucks.
In short...my first impression of Zaccaros' Market was one of promise. Not bowled-over impressed, but definitely interested. I'm greatly looking forward to seeing the wine selection, and perhaps even being able to chat with the sommelier. And the events Warner plans on having in-store--cooking demonstrations, *I believe* wine tastings, etc.--will really add to the appeal. It's set up quite nicely and can accommodate a medium-sized crowd for such gatherings, as well having all the makings of a great morning coffee spot and afternoon lunch spot. The décor is very loft-modern (minimalist, with drab concrete floors but highly-polished granite countertops and chrome accents). Overall--pricey though it may be, it's a great addition to our city.
Hel-lo, Zaccaro's!
SIDEBAR: Locals are very likely to run into people they know. I ran into Jerry, owner of the Park Bar, while I was there. Other people I know ran into other Park Bar regulars. It's a small city. You really can't throw a stone or buy bread without running into someone you've spent an evening drinking with.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Zaccaro's Still Set to Open
Originally published in D-Tales here.
After some general hullabaloo over liquor licensing for retail sales and some very technical blah blah blah legalese, Zaccaro's Market is still set to open this month. March 31st is the date (yes, that's also the Tigers Home Opener, so plan accordingly), and as far as owner Cindy Warner has been instructed, this date is solid. The licensing needed to sell beer and wine on the premises should be in place, and all will be well in the world of gourmet grocery shopping in the D.
As noted before, there will be an impressive selection of imported meats and cheeses, a full-scale bakery, a center kitchen area at which cooking classes will be offered, pre-made meals prepared by executive chefs, and more to tickle your culinary delights.
After some fear that the opening would be held up indefinitely, it appears that everything is finally in place...I'll see you at the cheese counter!
After some general hullabaloo over liquor licensing for retail sales and some very technical blah blah blah legalese, Zaccaro's Market is still set to open this month. March 31st is the date (yes, that's also the Tigers Home Opener, so plan accordingly), and as far as owner Cindy Warner has been instructed, this date is solid. The licensing needed to sell beer and wine on the premises should be in place, and all will be well in the world of gourmet grocery shopping in the D.
As noted before, there will be an impressive selection of imported meats and cheeses, a full-scale bakery, a center kitchen area at which cooking classes will be offered, pre-made meals prepared by executive chefs, and more to tickle your culinary delights.
After some fear that the opening would be held up indefinitely, it appears that everything is finally in place...I'll see you at the cheese counter!
Friday, January 25, 2008
Hel-lo, Zaccaro's!
Originally published in D-Tales here.
To those of you who question where one can grocery shop in the D, you're about to get your answer (and it's no longer simply "University Foods")--Zaccaro's Market.
Zaccaro's Market is set to open at the end of March, and will be occupying some 7,000 sq. ft. of the Crystal Lofts on Woodward Avenue in Brush Park. Owner Cindy Warner promises that Zaccaro's will bring with it a level of quality to a grocery story the city of Detroit has yet to see.
Among the many tempting offerings, Zaccaro's will feature a full deli with over 70 imported deli meats and 100 imported cheeses (look for me at the cheese counter every other Friday--payday, ya'know); a full wine room with selections priced from $5.00 to several hundred, AND with an on-site sommelier to assist you with wine and food pairings; fresh and prepared meats such as chicken, veal, beef, and pork will be offered, and many of them will be organic and/or grass-fed; the fresh seafood selection will include trout, walleye, salmon, oysters and mussels; the bakery will offer rustic and pan breads as well as sweets; there will be full produce, dairy, and frozen foods sections; and there will also be a full kitchen in the center of the store where cooking classes and demonstrations will take center stage.
A blogger on Metroblogging made a comment to the effect of, "It's about time someone realized that when you pay $300,000 to live in a loft downtown, you really don't want to do all of your grocery shopping in a place where there is bullet-proof plated glass between you and the cashier, all of your items must be rung through a turnstyle glass-enclosed countertop, and there's a vagrant outside asking you for some of what you just bought." I couldn't agree more, and couldn't have said it better myself. I am very much looking forward to the opening of Zaccaro's (100 imported cheeses??? 100????), and must finally begin to concede to what many others are already saying--it looks like Midtown is indeed the place to be.
To those of you who question where one can grocery shop in the D, you're about to get your answer (and it's no longer simply "University Foods")--Zaccaro's Market.
Zaccaro's Market is set to open at the end of March, and will be occupying some 7,000 sq. ft. of the Crystal Lofts on Woodward Avenue in Brush Park. Owner Cindy Warner promises that Zaccaro's will bring with it a level of quality to a grocery story the city of Detroit has yet to see.
Among the many tempting offerings, Zaccaro's will feature a full deli with over 70 imported deli meats and 100 imported cheeses (look for me at the cheese counter every other Friday--payday, ya'know); a full wine room with selections priced from $5.00 to several hundred, AND with an on-site sommelier to assist you with wine and food pairings; fresh and prepared meats such as chicken, veal, beef, and pork will be offered, and many of them will be organic and/or grass-fed; the fresh seafood selection will include trout, walleye, salmon, oysters and mussels; the bakery will offer rustic and pan breads as well as sweets; there will be full produce, dairy, and frozen foods sections; and there will also be a full kitchen in the center of the store where cooking classes and demonstrations will take center stage.
A blogger on Metroblogging made a comment to the effect of, "It's about time someone realized that when you pay $300,000 to live in a loft downtown, you really don't want to do all of your grocery shopping in a place where there is bullet-proof plated glass between you and the cashier, all of your items must be rung through a turnstyle glass-enclosed countertop, and there's a vagrant outside asking you for some of what you just bought." I couldn't agree more, and couldn't have said it better myself. I am very much looking forward to the opening of Zaccaro's (100 imported cheeses??? 100????), and must finally begin to concede to what many others are already saying--it looks like Midtown is indeed the place to be.
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