New Businesses Taking Shape in Bloomfield Township

Bloomfield area shoppers will soon have two new places to go to maintain or start their healthy, active lifestyle.

Better Health Market, a Michigan-owned and operated company, had a "soft" opening Friday morning after more than six months of renovations to the former Newton Furniture store at 2053 S. Telegraph Road. It is located next to the and will anchor the strip of stores in Bloomfield Plaza.

The 10,000 square-foot location is roughly five times the size of their . The space not only allows for more inventory — ranging from fresh organic produce and bulk foods to frozen goods and a seemingly limitless selection of vitamins and nutritional products — but it features a gourmet cafe` with seating and free Wi-Fi connection.

"We're going to be able to do so many different things here and we're looking to be a mainstay in the neighborhood because there's nothing else like us," said Store Manager Shannon Curran. Other stores in the chain are located in Ann Arbor, Belleville, Dearborn, Grosse Pointe, Lansing, Livonia, Novi, Plymouth, Southfield, St. Clair Shores and Taylor.

Curran said they're also looking forward to engaging loyal and new customers in a different way with special events on a regular basis. The store will feature author and fitness guru Peter Nielsen at its formal opening event on May 19.

"We hope to give people an overall, full picture of better health," Curran said. "Not just vitamins and supplements, there is a lot more to it."

The store is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. 

Dick's Sporting Goods Nearly Ready

Not far from the new Better Health location, the latest home of the national Dick's Sporting Goods chain is taking shape. Painters on Monday applied the final coat of beige on the store, located at 2105 Telegraph Rd., and the new sign went up Thursday.

A grand opening is planned for later this month, but further details were unavailable Friday. For those unfamiliar, Dick's is a sporting goods retailer that carries assorted brand names in equipment, apparel and footwear for various sports. There are more than 480 stores in 44 states, according to its website.