Foods for Living closes; Trader Joe's opens: Restaurants, retailers we gained, lost in June

June brought with it the long-awaited opening of the Lansing-area's first Trader Joe's near East Lansing.

A few days later, a mainstay of 27 years, independent grocery store Foods for Living, permanently closed its doors less than a mile away.

The area also welcomed a few new restaurants, and a vineyard and winery, while a Delta Township sub shop closed its doors.

Here's a look at what opened and closed around the area in the last month.

Openings

Carrie's Kitchen

Where: 3812 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Lansing

The details: Many of the soul food dishes on the menu at Carrie's Kitchen are inspired by the food Mikal Moore's grandmother made when he was younger. The new restaurant, in a building previously home to Wing Heaven Sports Haven, a "sober bar" that closed in 2022, opened on June 25.

The menu includes oxtails marinated in seasoning for up to two days and cooked in beef broth, and spicy cabbage steamed in butter. Fried chicken, pork chops, catfish, pot roast, collard greens, and macaroni and cheese made with four different types of cheese are also served. Learn more at the business's Facebook page at "Carrie's Kitchen."

Graham Vineyard and Winery

Where: 8920 W. Britton Road, Laingsburg

The details: Heather McDonald and her husband Michael opened Graham Banquet Center, the wedding venue they run at their property, in 2016. Their new vineyard and winery makes use of the rest of their 6½ acres. The couple will grow grapes and make wine, cider and non-alcoholic juices. The business's food menu features pizza, charcuterie boards and salads. It opened on June 7. To learn more visit the Facebook page at "Graham Vineyard and Winery."

King of the Grill Express

Where: 300 N. Clippert St., Lansing

The details: The barbecue restaurant opened this month in Frandor. The menu includes such things as spare ribs, brisket, pulled pork, cornbread and potato salad. Desserts include pecan pie, banana pudding, Texas sheet cake and carrot cake. Learn more at the business's website at www.kotge.com .

Trader Joe's

Where: 2755 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing

The details: News about Trader Joe's plans to open a store in East Lansing broke in late 2021, after the California-based specialty grocer requested a variance to construct a 115-space parking lot for the new store. Two-and-a-half years later, the location opened its doors on Friday morning with shelves fully stocked with items from the company's private label . The company plans to hire 65 people. Learn more about the store at www.traderjoes.com .

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Closings

Foods for Living

Where: 2655 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing

The details: The independent grocery store was a staple in the area for 27 years, opening in 1997. It had a deli with sandwiches, carried organic produce, baked goods, vegetarian and vegan items, boutique soaps, lotions, makeup, and essential oils. The store withstood competition from Whole Foods, which opened nearby in 2016, but closed Sunday, just a few days after Trader Joe's opened its first Lansing-area store just down East Grand River Avenue.

Penn Station Subs

Where: 5417 W. Saginaw Hwy., Delta Township

The details: Penn Station Subs operated a location in a plaza off West Saginaw Highway for a decade before the location closed in June. A sign on the storefront read, "It has been an honor to serve you for 10 years! We are sad to announce that we are now closed. The economy just cannot support two locations in the same area." The notice urged customers to visit the Penn Station Subs store at 3020 E. Saginaw St. in Lansing.

Contact Reporter Rachel Greco at rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on X @GrecoatLSJ .

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Foods for Living closes; Trader Joe's opens: Restaurants, retailers we gained, lost in June