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Posted on Tue, Apr 2, 2013 : 5:56 a.m.

Plum Market's first store in Chicago means opportunity for Zingerman's

By Lizzy Alfs

Specialty grocer Plum Market is taking its relationship with Zingerman’s outside of Michigan this summer.

The Metro Detroit-based grocery store plans to open a location in Chicago in June, and it will feature a wide range of Zingerman’s products. Among them: Zingerman’s Bakehouse and Candy Manufactory items; Zingerman’s coffee; and Zingerman’s Creamery cheese and gelato.

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Zingerman's coffee will be sold at the new Plum Market Chicago when it opens this summer.

AnnArbor.com | file photo

“Plum has been great to work with because they are really dedicated to bringing our look and feel into their stores and very much want to introduce their customers to us (by) using our graphics, signage and illustrations,” said Zingerman’s marketing manager Pete Sickman-Garner in an email interview.

Founded in 2007, Plum Market operates three stores in Michigan, including one on North Maple Road in Ann Arbor. The stores support the “Think Local” movement, and feature locally made products.

“Whether it's a farm like Garden Works or Maple Creek, or someone who has a wider distribution like Al Dente Pasta or Carol’s Cookies, we believe we should support, promote and highlight the local businesses within each store’s community,” the Plum Market website says.

The store in Chicago, expected to open June 13, is located in a luxury apartment building at 1225 N. Wells St., in the Old Town neighborhood.

Zingerman’s Bakehouse managing partner Amy Emberling said the store will feature almost the full line of Bakehouse products. She called Plum Market a “great supporter” of Zingerman’s.

“Although we have sold out of the state over the years it has never been and continues not to be a large part of our business plan. Plum asked us to come with them, and after many in depth discussions about how this could work and still maintain the quality of our breads and pastries, we agreed to go with them,” she wrote via email.

Plum Market Chicago also will feature a sushi program by renowned chef Takashi Yagihashi, who’s reportedly looking for an Ann Arbor location to open his Slurping Turtle restaurant.

Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.

Comments

Paul

Tue, Apr 2, 2013 : 11:33 p.m.

Better there then here. Who here pays $5.99 for a pineapple ? That was the price yesterday when I went in a Plum Market to get half price Easter candy.

David Paris

Tue, Apr 2, 2013 : 12:36 p.m.

Kinda off-topic, but Slurping Turtle (mentioned in the article) would do best down around Briarwood, me thinks. I'd say in the old Chi Chi's, but that place seems a little down on it's luck, it can't keep a tenant. Thanks to Oprah, Chicago will be all over those Zingerman's goods!

TheGerman

Tue, Apr 2, 2013 : 2:45 p.m.

Slurping Turtle is absolutely delicious!

oldlocal

Tue, Apr 2, 2013 : 12:30 p.m.

Raise a kid in Michigan, send him to Chicago: see aa.com a day ago. Our children are very happy.

EyeHeartA2

Tue, Apr 2, 2013 : 12:08 p.m.

So, I guess Ann Arbor is "local" to Chicago? ....or "Thinking Local" is just another example of slactivism. : "Yep, I'm thinking local. .. I hope the Cubbies win. Now load that bakery from a couple of states over into my BMW"

Jack Gladney

Tue, Apr 2, 2013 : 3:19 p.m.

There is a lot of truth in what you say. I'm all for commerce and free trade, but I do get a kick out of some 'Think Local' businesses who have websites that tout free shipping to the lower 48 states. I guess "local" is a relative term.