Detroit deli staple EW Grobbel just gave St. Clair Shores a serious upgrade. The longtime corned beef heavyweight cut the ribbon today on a new processing plant in the city, shifting several production lines into a larger facility and signaling a push into a wider spread of deli meats, pickles, and prepared foods.
As reported by Crain's Detroit Business, the St. Clair Shores site opened today and is expected to initially double overall production between the new plant and Grobbel's existing Eastern Market facility. Crain's notes that the operation is designed to turn out a broader range of deli meats and prepared items, not just the company’s signature corned beef.
Site and permits
City records show the plant sits at 20643 Stephens in St. Clair Shores, on a property north of Stephens and west of Little Mack. The city's zoning board agenda lists E.W. Grobbel as the applicant and includes last Thursday's hearing request to allow an existing fence instead of a concrete wall, according to the City of St. Clair Shores.
Not just corned beef
Grobbel traces its roots back to 1883 in Detroit's Eastern Market, and in recent years, the company has been steadily broadening its lineup through new brands and acquisitions. The company website lists Sy Ginsberg, Topor's pickles, and other labels under its umbrella, while local business coverage shows Grobbel has acquired assets from Freirich Foods as it grows its retail and foodservice presence, according to EW Grobbel and DBusiness.
Production, jobs and state backing
Company officials told Crain's Detroit Business that the St. Clair Shores plant will initially double output when combined with production from Eastern Market. State documents show Grobbel previously received support from the Michigan Strategic Fund for its expansion work, signaling formal economic development backing for the project, according to Michigan Business.
Why it matters
The new facility already appears to be in hiring mode. The company’s careers page and recent job postings reference roles connected to the St. Clair Shores operation as Grobbel ramps up production. For Eastern Market vendors and regional distributors, the added capacity could translate into steadier supply, more freight on local trucks, and additional business for logistics and cold storage operators tied into Grobbel’s growing footprint.
