Lucky’s Market has closed. Venue4M is in the location now. The Market & Cafe is a great place to gather – with coloring for the kids – and pick up some favorite items to go. Also, check out their restaurant and co-working space.
The Ann Arbor location of Lucky’s Market is their first store in Michigan with a grand opening celebration scheduled for today, Wednesday March 25. I was invited in for a sneak peek yesterday and the store was open for a soft opening.
Lucky’s Market Background
Lucky’s Market was started in 2003 in Boulder, Colorado by chefs Trish & Bo Sharon. Their goal in opening Lucky’s Market was to provide a single shopping destination with quality produce, meats, and an emphasis on natural/organic products while still providing access to traditional favorites treats and brands. For example, they carry brands like Coke or Pepsi and Campbell Soup. I do appreciate being able to purchase some of my traditional brands along side the natural food offerings.
The goal of Lucky’s Market is to serve both the customer who already shops local/organic/natural as well as to ease new shoppers into these shopping habits by offering great prices and great products.
At the opening today, I got to meet owner Bo Sharon. An interesting tidbit of trivia, before becoming a chef he was a child actor from the age of 3-17. He got his start in 2 episodes of Happy Days as Richie Cunningham, Jr and appeared in multiple TV shows, commercials, and movies before deciding to leave acting for culinary school. (And yes, you can find him on IMDB)
Lucky’s Market is located at 1919 S. Industrial Highway in the former Kroger location. For the latest information from the Ann Arbor store, you can Like Lucky’s Market Ann Arbor on Facebook, follow on Lucky’s Market Ann Arbor on Instagram, or visit the store’s website.
Food at Lucky’s Market Ann Arbor
Lucky’s Market offers a wide variety of food products with an emphasis on local, organic, and natural foods. They offer a wide selection of foods prepared on-site as well as private label brands where they have developed the recipes. In addition, they
Produce & Juice Bar
The Produce and Juice Bar occupies about 22% of the store which is comparable to the sales percentage of this section at other Lucky’s Market locations.
During the tour this morning we were given a sample of their freshly made orange juice. As I received the sample, I was immediately struck by how wonderful the juice smelled. The juice was very smooth and not full of pulp which I prefer. They careful source the oranges changing varieties throughout the year to based on sugar content to keep the juice consistent. I am definitely going to have to try more of their juices in the future.
One of their opening week specials is Strawberries for $0.99 (a 1 lb container). That’s definitely a great price for the middle of winter.
Meat Counter
The Meat Counter at Lucky’s is definitely an indulgence. All of their meats are butchered on site by actual butchers. One of their specialties are their bacons. Bacon is one of their specialties. To make bacon they receive pork bellies which are then cut to bacon, cold cured for 12 days and then smoked for 12 hours. They typically have three flavors of bacon available: honey orange, peppered, and regular. All of their bacon varieties are nitrate and nitrite free. At $5.99/lb the bacon is quite a bargain! They had bacon samples out and it was truly delicious! We don’t buy bacon often, but when I do, it will be from Lucky’s Market.
Lucky’s Market Ann Arbor also custom makes their own sausage in the store. In each market that they have opened in, they have created a local beer brat from a local microbrew. For Ann Arbor, the beer brat is made with Arbor Brewing Company’s Ypsi Gypsi.
Lucky’s Market Ann Arbor stocks different grades of meat. Their Never, Ever meat is always hormone and anti-biotic free and grass-fed. They also stock natural meat that has been minimally processed.
Breads & Cheese
Lucky’s Market Ann Arbor offers in-house baked breads at $2.99 every day. We tried an apricot pumpkin seed that was quite good. The breads are on sale 2/$4 for the Grand Opening. Lucky’s Market offers a wide selection of cheeses none of which have growth hormones.
Deli, Prepared Foods Counter, & Salad Bar
The deli offers in-store roasted roast beef, roast turkey breast, and fresh-smoked turkey breast that is cut to order. The deli selections are available for purchase by the pound or as a sandwich/individual portion for a to-go meal. They also offer a wide selection of prepared dishes and salads. The salad bar offers a great selection (I really want to try the grilled BLT salad) at $5.99/lb. For the kids, they also offer hand-tossed pizza by the slice. They will be adding sushi, although it is not available yet. They also offer in-house baked products using natural ingredients at a great price. For example, they had a blueberry pie available for $3.99 today.
Bulk Foods
Lucky’s Market Ann Arbor offers over 400 bulk foods products. They have an old-time candy bar offering traditional favorite candy like salt-water taffy. In addition to the barrels of bulk foods, they also offer bulk honeys, syrup, and oils. You can also grind your own peanut butter – including a chocolate peanut butter blend.
Beer and Wine
Lucky’s Market Ann Arbor offers both beer and wine for purchase. In addition to their bottled wine and beer, Lucky’s Market sells a growler that can be refilled from the taps (once their liquor license is approved). At that point, you’ll be able to enjoy your beer at their beer bar or even walk around the store with it.
Shopping at Lucky’s Market
I really liked the atmosphere inside Lucky’s. It was a bright store and seemed well laid out. From what I saw of the prices, they were very competitive and they had a great selection.
Giving Back to the Community
Lucky’s Market emphasizes giving back to the community in their business model. Throughout March, the Ann Arbor location will have three days where 5% of sales will be donated to a local school:
- March 10 – Bryant Elementary School
- March 17 – Pattengill Elementary School
- March 27 – Burns Park Elementary
When you bring your own reusable shopping bag, you will receive either a 5 cent rebate, or a wooden nickel that you can use to donate to one of three local non-profits for each quarter. Lucky’s Market will match your donation For the current quarter, the non-profits are Growing Hope, the Center for Independent Living, and Girls on the Run of Southeastern Michigan.
Then, in April, they will have a 10% day where 10% of sales will be donated to the Lucky’s Market Learning Garden at the YMCA.
Kid-Friendly Shopping at Lucky’s Market
Kids will enjoy shopping at Lucky’s Market Ann Arbor. They have small carts just for the kids. The cashiers will have stickers for kids and kids can enjoy putting their nickel from using a reusable bag into the bin of their choice.They are also planning to hold in-store events, some geared just towards kids. One of the first events they are planning is Easter Egg decorating in March. When more details are available, I will be sure to let you know.
Will you be checking out Lucky’s Market Ann Arbor? I can’t wait to go back when I have time to shop!
