Alia Edwards is having a full circle moment. 

Edwards, founder of MacAttack, a local business that opened in 2022, sells  homemade Southern-style comfort food such as macaroni and cheese. She will debut her product in the new Fairfax Market, which opened in Cleveland’s Fairfax neighborhood on Tuesday.

Edwards, who grew up near East 63rd Street and Woodland Avenue, said she recalls the long distances her family would travel for groceries because there wasn’t a store in their neighborhood. Now, having a store nearby that not only offers fresh, healthy food options but also products from other local entrepreneurs makes a difference, she said. 

“It’s just refreshing now to have a store in the area but also be a part of it as a supplier selling my product to people in my community,” Edwards said. 

Meijer’s representatives, city officials, hospital executives and local developers held a ribbon cutting ceremony yesterday. 

The market is part of a larger development project in the Fairfax neighborhood between the City of Cleveland, Cleveland Clinic, Fairfax Renaissance Development Corp. and Fairmount Properties. The project aims to boost economic growth, increase exposure for local entrepreneurs and address food insecurity. 

Located at 2190 E. 105th St., the market includes: 

• Fresh meat and deli items, produce and a bakery
• 2,000 local products, including Meijer’s store brands and national brands
• Acceptance of SNAP/EBT and WIC 
• Options for curbside pickup and home delivery from Instacart, Shipit, DoorDash and other delivery apps 

How the Fairfax Market got started

In 2018, Cleveland City Council President Blaine Griffin and Cleveland Clinic CEO Tom Mihaljevic proposed bringing a supermarket to Fairfax, a majority-Black neighborhood around the hospital’s campus that has endured decades of redlining and health disparities. Through community conversations with Griffin and the hospital, residents expressed their overwhelming need for a grocer and access to fresh food. 

“We want residents to feel that [Fairfax Market] can be a hub for members of the community,” said Alan Jordan, Fairfax Market store director. 

The opening of the store is also part of a larger effort to highlight and support products from small businesses and entrepreneurs in the neighborhood, including Mac Attack and Catlin Naturals Luxury Body Care, Jordan said. 

The market is the retailer’s first neighborhood grocery store outside of Michigan. The store will be open every day from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Learn more about the Fairfax neighborhood