Left: Mexicantown International Welcome Center. Right: Mexicantown Mercado

Mexicantown CDC’s major development project, the Mexicantown International Welcome Center and Mercado provides a permanent venue for economic and cultural development. The Ribbon Cutting for this $17 million investment occurred on October 26, 2006.

The Grand Opening will take place on October 5th & 6th, 2007. (LINK TO EVENTS)

The Mexicantown Mercado features a business incubator with new businesses showcasing quality products from Mexico, with a variety of merchandise from flowers to jewelry. The Mercado will feature authentic Mexican carry out food and also an upscale Mexican restaurant.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, October 26, 2006

From left: Rep. Steve Tobocman, Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano, Gov. Jennifer Granholm, City of Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, MCDC’s President Maria Elena Rodriguez, Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks-Kilpatrick, Sen. Carl Levin, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Capital Campaign Director & MCDC’s Vice Chair Fern Espino, MCDC’s Chair Hector Hernandez

In addition, the Mexicantown Plaza is already a meeting point for the Southwest Detroit community, hosting cultural events and entertainment throughout the year, providing a pedestrian friendly public place for families, to visit Mexicantown and enjoy the many amenities within the district.

The Mexicantown International Welcome Center serves as the anchor for this project, offering market rate rent to established retail and business offices. It will feature a State of Michigan Welcome Center saluting and presenting the State of Michigan to the visitors and tourist coming to Detroit and Mexicantown. The Center features a DTE Energy Customer Service Center (Opening on June 11, 2007), Mexicantown CDC's offices.

The project includes:

• 5,000 square feet State of Michigan Welcome Center
• 7,000 square feet DTE Energy Customer Service Center
• 13,000 Mexicantown Mercado - a Public Market
• 30,000 square foot Retail and Office Building
• Public Plaza

The Mexicantown International Welcome Center and Mercado is located in the heart of Mexicantown, at the base of the Ambassador Bridge to Windsor, Canada. It has transformed the image of the State of Michigan, the City of Detroit and Mexicantown as visitors encounter the cultural delights and retail collections offered in the Bagley Avenue district.

It has optimized Mexicantown's identity as a tourist and entertainment destination. The development will bring increased tourism expenditures in Detroit and Southeastern Michigan and offers cultural and arts programming within the Mexicantown Mercado and in the Public Plaza. The project is anticipated to be the future "heart" of the Latino community. It's Welcome Center, Mercado and Plaza will honor the rich history of Latinos in the city and the state while creating a more prosperous future for this vibrant, diverse and historical neighborhood.

The Mexicantown International Welcome Center and Mercado will:

Create:

84 new businesses and 195 new jobs.
$16 million in annual retail revenues. These dollars are currently spent by Mexicantown residents outside of Detroit. Once construction of the Mexicantown International Welcome Center and Mercado is complete, these dollars will be spent in Mexicantown.
$19 million in tourism expenditures will be generated by visitors to the State of Michigan Welcome Center.

Transform:

The image of the City of Detroit. At this important entrance, similar to Detroit Metropolitan Airport, international travelers will no longer be met with blocks of vacant land and confusing freeway signs and ramps. Rather, visitors and area residents will be greeted with a vibrant, bustling restaurant and cultural district.
The Mexicantown restaurant district. Restaurant row now has a freeway and two vast, vacant blocks of land in its center. The Mexicantown International Welcome Center and Mercado fills this vacant land with commerce and culture. Currently, Mexicantown boasts about 1 million annual visitors. The Mexicantown International Welcome Center and Mercado will bring an additional 1.2 million visitors to Mexicantown.
The local economy. Southwest Detroit residents will own most of the businesses created. This increases the economic power of area families and residents. Local business owners are also far more likely to reinvest in Southwest Detroit.
The State of Michigan’s ability to reach international tourists. By locating a Welcome Center in Detroit, Travel Michigan will be able to better promote tourism opportunities in Detroit, the Detroit region and across the State.

Therefore come to Mexicantown, visit the Mexicantown International Welcome Center and Mercado and become part of the exciting life and culture taking place in one of the richest and historic districts in the city of Detroit.