1220 Kalamazoo Ave se Grand Rapids, Michigan 49507 Open Monday-Friday 11am-7pm, Saturday 10am-7pm Tel: 616-724-4404
Real Food for
Real Change.
OUR MISSION
To increase access to healthy, affordable and culturally-accepted food for our community through a sustainable and equitable lens.
Fall + Winter Hours
Monday-Tuesday 11am-7pm
Wednesday closed
Thursday-Friday 11am-7pm
Saturday 10am-7pm
Sundays - closed for rest + tea + baths
Curbside Pickup + Delivery
Gladly welcome SNAP + EBT
Pay at Pickup + at time of Delivery
Free Delivery for 49507 Residents
PAY IT FORWARD
Donate once or click subscribe to pay it forward with a monthly donation.
South East Market is a For-Profit entity and donations are not tax deductible.
Pay It Forward, our community-powered subsidy, maintain the dignity in one's self chosen grocery order. Having a choice moves us away from toxic charitable systems which perpetuate the chronic underconsumption of adequate nutrients.
Pay it Forward provides dignified, culturally accepted and nutrient dense food through a sustainable food system. These dollars will be applied to purchasing the following items:
- Local, sustainably raised meat & poultry
- Produce from Local + BIPOC owned Farms
- Local Eggs + Milk
- Free Grocery Delivery within 49507
We chose these items because of their positive impact on community health, environmental sustainability and contributions towards building equity within our local agriculture system.
Our home
49507
The 49507 zip code is one of the most diverse spaces in Grand Rapids, mi. We know that
diversity is our strength.
It means colorful stories, rich culture, delicious food, beautiful people and is the future of humanity.
We know that many of our neighbors have been estranged from resources and opportunity because of our diversity. This translates to higher incidences of stress and dietary related diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.
That is exactly why South East Market's Home is in 49507 and we wouldn't have it any other way.
We celebrate our neighbors and lift them up through increasing access to healthy food options through dignified means, education opportunities and community empowerment.
41.5%
have high blood pressure
16.9%
have
diabetes
44%
are
obese
1 in 8
are food
insecure
What is Food Justice?
Food Justice happens when communities are able to grow, sell, and eat healthy food. Food justice is one piece of social and racial justice. Food justice means we have food options that speak to the equitable future we want to see.
What Makes the Market Equitable?
We source our products first from Black, brown, indigenous, local or womxn-led farms and businesses. Additionally, our diligence to supporting businesses that respect environmental sustainability align The South East Market as the perfect place to shop for the consumer activist.
We are more than a grocery store. We employ programming that educates our community for resiliency. We are in the business of building wealth for groups that have experienced systemic oppression.
It's hard work to do within the trying climate of west michigan for bipoc (Black, indigenous people of color) and women. however, we believe that through the power of intentional communities and radical sharing we will see change in our corner on earth. We already have.
To increase access to healthy, affordable and culturally-accepted food for our community through a sustainable and equitable lens.
Our
Mission
Meet the Team
ALITA KELLY
co-founder
she/her
A Grand Rapids native, Alita recently graduated from the University of Michigan in Environmental Science and Sustainable Business.
While building and managing multiple nutrition programs she found a passion for empowering equitable and sustainable food systems.
Outside of getting into good trouble, Alita is passionate about; food sovereignty, the benefits of travel, connecting to mother earth and consumer activism.
KHARA DEWIT
co-founder
she/her
A Hawai'i native, Khara brings her aloha vibes to the 49507 neighborhood, where she's lived for 15+ years.
As an entrepreneur, she found her niche in a relationship-based accounting practice, which birthed in her a passion of for-profit social enterprise.
Outside of getting into good trouble, Khara is jazzed about fostering generous communities, food as medicine, holistic health, and befriending the earth.
Khara and Alita immediately bonded over their shared philosophy of food as medicine and the spiritual benefits of being connected to Mother Earth.
Khara and Alita are both fueled by a passion to atone for the work their ancestors have done, working land that they never had the chance to own but served as vessels to bear its fruit. They believe that there is enough for everyone and live with an abundant mindset.
They’re excited to work in tandem to put equity and sustainability at the forefront of South East Market’s work and engage our community as the diverse leaders that we’re all aching to see.
South East Market in the Press