When a major grocer pulled out of downtown Battle Creek, some saw disaster.
Others saw possibility.
Possibility won.
What followed is a powerful example of what happens when a community refuses to accept loss — and instead builds something better:
- The historic Anson Building sat empty for decades
- Battle Creek Unlimited purchased the building in 2020
- The grocery story moved in 2021
- The City approved tax incentives to support redevelopment
- Developer Restore 269 leveraged grants from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation
- A $3 million capital investment created 10 full-time jobs — and a fresh anchor for downtown
The result is Uproot Market & Eatery, a community-owned, full-service grocery store in the heart of downtown. Born from the collaborative spirit of Sprout BC, Uproot opened in fall 2025 to meet a critical need.
“There was a decent uproar when the grocery store closed,” said manager Stacy Niemann. “More than 3,000 people live in this area — low-income residents, non-drivers, seniors — and there was nowhere to buy food.”
Located at 119 W. Michigan Ave., Uproot is both spacious and welcoming, offering 3,000 square feet of grocery space and a 1,500-square-foot café. Shelves are stocked with healthy, local, nourishing food, alongside freshly made soups, salads, wraps, smoothies, and juices for dine-in or takeout. While everyone is welcome, the co-op’s nearly 500 members receive discounts and help shape the store’s future.
Uproot exists because collaboration came first. Sprout BC had long been addressing food access through community gardens, mobile markets, and food distribution programs. With support from the City of Battle Creek’s Small Business Development office and financing from Northern Initiatives, the vision became reality. Capital from the Battle Creek Loan Fund, supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, helped Uproot take root.
This spirit of cooperation defines downtown Battle Creek. Northern Initiatives’ new offices in the Grand Valley State University Innovation Hub place it side by side with many partners working toward the same goal.
“We cheer each other on,” Niemann said. “Politics don’t get in the way. Everyone wants downtown to thrive. It’s a big city with a small-town heart.”
The future is bright — literally and figuratively. Sunlight pours through Uproot’s front windows as plans take shape for a hot bar, expanded catering, and employee benefits. Today, Uproot employs 22 people, nine full time — and continues to grow what the community planted together.
