Awesome Mitten’s Guide to Visiting Horrocks Farm Market in Lansing
Would you like to save this full guide?
We'll email this article to you, so you can come back to it later!
A trip to the farmer’s market is a quintessential Michigan experience, and nearly every town across the state offers some sort of weekly market experience for locals and visitors. However, a trip to Horrocks Farm Market in Lansing is unlike any visit to a typical Michigan farmer’s market. In fact, it’s a destination in itself, making it one of the best things to do in Lansing Michigan!
While your average community market may attract a dozen or so vendors from the local area, Horrocks Lansing is a 70,000-square-foot facility that offers more than just fresh food and artisan products — it provides an unforgettable experience.
History of Horrocks Farm Market in Lansing Michigan
Today, Horrocks Farm Market is an instantly-recognized name in Lansing, but that’s because it’s a local business that has been growing and thriving for 60 years. It may boast a state-of-the-art facility with incredible amenities, but its roots are very humble.
Horrocks Lansing began as a Christmas tree stand that was started by two farmers in the late 1950s. The story goes that founder Jerald Horrocks came home one day and told his wife that he had spent all of their savings on a Christmas tree lot on Saginaw Street in the heart of the city.
Upon hearing his grand plan, his wife broke down and cried. But the gamble paid off. The Christmas tree lot and subsequent fruit stand at the same location were an instant success, and the Horrocks family knew that they had something that worked for the local community.
It quickly grew — largely thanks to the construction of the I-96 freeway in the 1960s. Before long, it transformed into the massive facility that draws thousands of people each week.
Features That Make Horrocks Lansing Unique
There are so many options in Michigan — particularly in the Lansing area — when it comes to finding fresh produce and artisan goods. From local farmer’s markets to gourmet grocery stores, shoppers have choices. So, why do so many of them opt to spend their time and money at Horrocks Farm Market?
Journalists attribute this phenomenon to the market being more than just a place to shop and grab a few much-needed necessities. It’s more of an experience — the kind of place where people go to spend their free time, relax, soak up the atmosphere, and simultaneously complete their errands.
In addition, Horrocks Lansing offers a wide array of goods and services. Below is a look at everything that you can peruse.
Produce
As a full-service grocery store and farm market, Horrocks always has a healthy supply of fresh produce. Shoppers appreciate that they can consistently find high-quality produce for the right price, especially since this store specializes in locally-grown fruits and vegetables.
Each week, Horrocks publishes a list of specials, which often include spectacular prices on produce items, such as fancy zucchini and Brussels sprouts.
Deli
At the Horrocks deli, customers can select from a vast range of meats and cheeses that can be sliced fresh according to their preferences. In addition, there are handcrafted sandwiches available for purchase, making it easy to find the perfect lunch or dinner on the go.
Perhaps one of the biggest surprises that can be found at the deli is the selection of homemade soups, which change weekly based on the ingredients available.
Some soup styles that may be available include broccoli and cheese, buffalo chicken, Tuscan tomato, and shrimp and corn chowder. On any given day, there are more than a dozen soups to choose from.
Gourmet Popcorn, Coffee, & Caramel Apples
Gourmet popcorn, coffee, and caramel apples often make wonderful gifts — but they also are the kind of things that you can indulge in yourself every once and a while.
At Horrocks Lansing, you will find gourmet popcorn that’s been freshly popped and seasoned in the store. The coffee is also roasted in the store — and the aroma lingers throughout the entire facility.
And, the larger-than-life caramel apples have been fresh-dipped and rolled in amazing toppings on site. It’s almost impossible to take a walk through Horrocks without treating yourself to one of these tasty delights.
Beer & Wine
In the beer and wine section of the grocery store, you will find an array of products that suit any taste or preference. As with anything in Horrocks, local reigns supreme, so don’t be surprised to find bottles of wine from your favorite Michigan wineries or handcrafted beer from a treasured local brewery.
Flowers
If fresh-cut flowers add life to your home, then Horrocks is the place that you need to go. Its incredible floral department specializes in fresh-cut varieties, releasing new flowers three days per week.
During any given week, you will find more than 50 flower varieties to choose from, allowing you to create your own bouquet or choose from one of the pre-made designs.
In addition to flowers, there are usually houseplants available in this department, but you need to act quickly because they are known for selling out.
Garden Center
The Horrocks Lansing garden center is open seasonally and is a favorite destination among gardeners in the local area. Particularly in the springtime, the garden center is buzzing with activity as people purchase the plants, flowers, vegetables, and landscaping supplies that they will need for the year.
The Michigan summer season is short, and local people know that Horrocks will help them make the most of their outdoor living space.
Beer Garden & Tavern
It’s often said that Horrocks Lansing is not where you go for a quick errand — it’s someplace where you can enjoy an entire afternoon. The Beer Garden and Tavern plays a large role in that relaxed atmosphere.
Very few, if any, grocery stores or farm markets in Michigan boast almost 50 beers on tap. Shoppers are invited to sip on a brew in the tavern or outdoor beer garden, which is open seasonally. Or, they can even grab one to go while they shop.
Those who can’t enjoy a beer on site can bring their own growler, and fill it up with one of the dozens of beers that are on tap.
Pizzeria
With more than 70,000 square feet to roam, it’s easy to work up an appetite. Fortunately, there is a solution available in the form of gourmet pizza. The Horrocks Pizzeria is located within the farm market, and it serves classic and specialty pizzas for most of the day, each day.
Live Music & Food Trucks at Horrocks Farm Market
Once again setting itself apart from any other grocer or farm market in the state, Horrocks Lansing regularly offers live music and food trucks for its patrons to enjoy.
In a typical week, several local bands perform on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday nights, and sometimes on weekend afternoons. Horrocks usually posts the schedule in advance so that visitors can plan ahead. In addition, you can often find a food truck serving flavorful favorites to shoppers.
FAQs About Horrocks Farm Market
When did Horrocks Farm Market open?
The Horrocks Farm Market first opened its doors in 1959. In those early days, the family sold Christmas trees and fresh fruit, but it quickly grew to be the mid-Michigan destination that people now know and love.
What are the hours for Horrocks Lansing?
Horrocks Farm Market is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The tavern is open from 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., with the last call at 9 p.m., while the beer garden doesn’t open until 11 a.m.
Despite Horrocks extending its hours and people being able to go when they please, you can almost always expect a crowd. It’s a beloved local gem, and there’s never any shortage of customers.
When is the best time of year to visit Horrocks Lansing?
Horrocks Lansing is a year-round destination. It specializes in local offerings, so you can expect a unique experience every time you go inside.
Spring is the best time of year to visit the garden center. In summer and early fall, you can enjoy the outdoor amenities, such as the beer garden. And, wintertime is the best time to go holiday shopping at Horrocks.
Are there other Horrocks market locations in Michigan?
Yes, in addition to the original Horrocks Lansing location, you can find Horrocks in Battle Creek (same owners) and Grand Rapids (same extended family but different ownership).
Plan Your Visit to Horrocks Farm Market in Lansing Michigan
The thing about Horrocks Lansing is that it doesn’t matter when you decide to go. It’s going to be busy. It is one of the best places to soak up the authentic culture and atmosphere of Lansing because people from all over the city and surrounding region come to shop, dine, hang out, and enjoy live music.
If you are crafting an itinerary for a day out in Lansing, be sure to include a stop at Horrocks Farm Market. You won’t be disappointed. You can sprinkle some other couple’s activities or family-friendly things to do into your itinerary too.
Lansing resident here. While I love Horrocks and it is my go-to destination for awesome cheeses, it is NOT a “Farmers Market,” and you do a disservice to genuine, multi-vendor farmers markets to compare these dissimilar venues. Horrocks is a one-owner huge grocery store with an equally large selection of non-grocery items. The produce, meats and dairy products are for the most part not local, and were not “just harvested.” That said, the quality and price are really good – but it is still “Horrocks Farm Market”, and not a farmers market. Don’t compare apples to blueberries!