Celebration ensued at the groundbreaking of the $72 million Gateway shopping center at 8 mile and Woodward. Among other stores, the 350,000 square-foot center will include Marshalls, K & G Fashions and a Meijer Supercenter, making it the first to be located in Detroit.
"This is such a terrific thing," Hank Meijer, CEO of Meijer told the large crowd gathered at the groundbreaking.
"It is exciting to have Meijer coming to Detroit, they are truly an icon to our state," said Gov. Rick Snyder at the groundbreaking.
The notion for the Gateway Center has been on the table for awhile.
Redico, a Southfield based real estate firm helped bring the idea to fruition.
"The Gateway Marketplace will set the stage for new development in the area," said Dale Watchowski, CEO of Redico.
The
General Retirement System of the City of Detroit was one of the investors for this project, and the
Detroit Economic Growth Corporation negotiated the deal to create the project.
Developers estimate that 900 permanent retail jobs and 300 construction jobs will be created to support the shopping center, scheduled for completion in spring 2013.
"I’m excited that a Meijer is going to be built in Detroit," said Jeannette Henderson, a resident of Detroit. "I’m looking forward to going there to shop."
Source: Susan Ferraro
Writer: Leah Johnson
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