It’s been said before, and it’s worth saying again: We all have a lot to look forward to with the arrival of the Main Market Co-op in it’s NEW and much improved retail location.
This just in from the Downtown Spokane Partnership’s “Street Talk” newsletter:
Main Market Grocery Cooperative Begins Membership Drive and Announces a New Retail Location
After several months of careful preparation, Main Market Cooperative can envision a healthy hive of activity, with shoppers creating and sharing community over food. With a newly inked mission statement , incorporation papers in hand, a detailed list of member-owner benefits, as well as an exceptional corner retail location, Main Market Cooperative officially launched its membership drive in September.
Main Market’s goal is to have at least 500 members and to have raised a total of $300,000 from area stakeholders by the end of 2008, through membership and additional support from area business and individual sponsors.
As soon as Main Market Cooperative achieves its fundraising goals, work will commence in 2009 on the newly designated permanent home, the current Goodyear Tire building, at 44 W. Main Street. The 9,500 square foot store will visually attract business from a west & south accessible corner and offer multiple free parking spaces, full southern exposure to support a rooftop garden and outside seating. These assets meet many of the cooperative’s identified characteristics for an ideal location, bringing a full-service grocery and so much more to Downtown Spokane.
The Co-op’s Board of Directors, who have been meeting weekly or bi-weekly for the past 6 months, are excited that a store is finally in sight. “It’s wonderful,” said Mary Eberle, “to be a part of creating access to a consumer food co-op in Downtown Spokane and to be part of the vibrant, diverse mix of retail, residential and community-oriented energy found on the east end of Main Avenue. Our success in creating a grocery capable of addressing our area’s unique needs will be determined by community investors, large and small, motivated to improve access to healthy, delicious and sustainable foods.”
Main Market’s shelves will emphasize fresh local produce, bulk foods, healthy take-away items and high quality baked goods, as well as a wide range of groceries sourced with sustainability in mind, at the lowest mark-up feasible for store viability.
For membership and other Main Market Co-op information, visit MainMarket.coop
Tags: Community · Local Food · Non-Profits · Sustainable Development10 Comments
10 responses so far ↓
Grocery stores in downtown are perhaps one of the most important signs of sustainable density and a seamless blending of living space and working space out there. It’s atrocious that Spokane went for so long without one, but this is pretty goddamn skippy.
And taking out that damned Goodyear dinosaur will vastly improve the view from the Community Building.
here here!
Support Main Market Co-op by attending a Hill’s Restaurant & Lounge Tradition… the famed multi-course Brewers’ Dinner!
Tuesday, October 28th, 6:30pm
A slight twist on the dinner means that instead of the brewer talking, local producers are the stars & will share their stories as you dine!
Special introduction to local business, WrapSacks, too!
401 West Main, Spokane
$55.00 per person (includes tax & gratuity) – proceeds benefit Main Market Co-op’s capital campaign.
http://www.mainmarket.coop
Thanks for the support!
Memberships are available now too! Help make it reality by joining… http://www.mainmarket.coop (build page)
The Hill’s dinner will be spectacular – RSVPs need to be in by Saturday, 10/25 since producers are contributing with donated products!
I’ve looked everywhere on your website for a “contact us” page to phone or send an email and this is the only contact information I’ve found. I’ve filled in your Supplier Application but when I hit “submit” I keep getting an error. I’ve filled in all of the boxes and nothing changes. We make a line of gourmet salad dressings, dips and bbq sauces and would love to have some of them at your coop.
Audio update:
http://newscast.kpbx.org/current/20090318_1035_-jv_investor_promotes_local_investing.mp3
Has to co-op started hiring?
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Thank you Sheri Staudinger
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