When people think of a grocery option inside an apartment building, most picture a lobby micro market: smart fridges, shelves and a self-checkout kiosk in an amenity area, run by an outside operator. It is a growing amenity in large buildings, but it isn’t the only option.
HomeMarket offers another path: a resident keeps the products in their own apartment and delivers to neighbors, who order in the app. Here is the side-by-side comparison for residents, property managers and anyone who wants to start a small business.
Side-by-side comparison
| Lobby micro market | HomeMarket (store in an apartment) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | An outside operator or franchisee | A resident of the building |
| Where it is | A common area (lobby, amenity room, mailroom) | Inside the resident’s own apartment |
| Space from the building | Yes | No |
| Approval | Contract with management, board or HOA | No common areas used; the resident follows the lease or bylaws |
| Equipment | Smart fridges, shelving, cameras, kiosk, power | Nothing in common areas |
| How residents buy | Walk to the kiosk and self-checkout | Order in the app and get it at the door |
| Time to get the item | However long it takes to go down | About 5 minutes, delivered |
| Shrink and theft risk | Real (unattended retail) | Low: the inventory stays with the resident |
| Investment to start | High | No upfront investment on the platform; just inventory |
| Who keeps the profit | The operator (the property may get a revenue share) | The resident who sells |
How a lobby micro market works
An operator installs a small self-service store in a common area, stocks it and handles maintenance. Residents grab items and pay at a kiosk by card or phone. Usually the property provides the space and power and may receive a share of sales.
- Pros: open 24/7, a wider range in very large buildings, no effort from residents.
- Watch-outs: needs free, monitored space, a contract, electricity and loss control; residents still have to go down to it.
How a HomeMarket store works
A resident creates a store in the HomeMarket Seller app, keeps a few products at home and serves the neighbors in their own building. Neighbors buy in the HomeMarket app, pay by card or cash on delivery, and the seller brings the order to the door.
- Pros: no common area used, door delivery in minutes, no upfront investment on the platform, the income stays with a neighbor.
- Watch-outs: depends on a resident willing to serve at peak times; the range starts smaller and grows with demand.
Want to start one? Follow the step-by-step to start a mini market in your building or see what running one looks like.
What property managers and boards should consider
A micro market in a common area is a building decision: it involves a contract, shared space, power, insurance and usage rules. A resident selling from inside their own unit, with nothing in common areas and no customer traffic, asks nothing of the building — they only need to follow the lease, bylaws and house rules.
We explain this model in plain language on HomeMarket for buildings and in can you sell groceries from your apartment?.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: a lobby micro market or HomeMarket?
It depends on the goal. If the building has space and wants a 24/7 amenity run by an operator, a micro market can make sense. If a resident wants to start a business without investment or common-area space, and neighbors prefer door delivery, HomeMarket is the better fit.
Does the building earn anything from HomeMarket?
The building gets no revenue share, but it also gives no space, signs no contract and takes on no liability. Residents get convenience and the income stays with a neighbor.
Can a building have both?
Yes. The kiosk serves residents who walk down to the common area; the neighbor’s store delivers to the door and can offer products the kiosk doesn’t carry.
Does a lobby micro market need board or HOA approval?
Because it uses a common area, it normally needs a contract with management and, depending on the bylaws, approval from the board or HOA. Every building has its own rules.
Open your store in your building today
Download the HomeMarket Seller app, create your store for free and start serving your neighbors.