storemasters

 “Remember 2024? That was THE year of the community-owned grocery store, when we witnessed the greatest wave of new food co-op development in recent history”... ... is what will almost certainly be said many decades from now! NEW LONDON, MN After the town’s only grocer closed in 2009, the community of 1,300 came together to begin developing their own. The New London Food Co-op opened its doors March 14! DETROIT, MI After 10 years of dedication, the founding Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network will realize their vision for the Detroit People’s Food Co-op. Opening May 1. WOODSTOCK, IL The Food Shed Co-op will open May 15. The co-op is demonstrating a unique approach to serving two distinct communities (Woodstock and Crystal Lake) by locating the store off the main route in-between the two. BETHLEHEM, PA The Bethlehem Food Co-op Market will open in 2024 – relieving a long-standing food desert in the city’s central core. HUDSON, WI When the only downtown grocer closed in 2006, the Hudson Grocery Cooperative was incorporated to develop an alternative. In 2023, following the unexpected passing of the owner of another local grocery store, the co-op acquired the assets of Fresh & Natural Foods. The store remains operational under co-op ownership and the co-op is actively raising capital to support the 2024 transition. ST. JOHNSBURY, VT The startup Caledonia Food Co-op and its 1,228 founding members have successfully raised the $2.2 million to secure the former Walgreens building. The co-op will close on the acquisition April 10. CHICAGO, IL Chicago Market’s 2,382 founding owners celebrated the submission of the co-op’s building permit on March 15. Once the City issues the permits, work on the build-out can begin. CHICAGO, IL The startup Wild Onion Market co-op is actively raising the final capital required to open in 2024 in their already-secured location. IMPERIAL BEACH, CA Nearly 10 years in the making, the startup SunCoast Market Co-op announced the hiring of their first General Manager. The co-op anticipates construction to commence Fall 2024. LOMBARD, IL The startup Prairie Food Co-op took possession of their site in January and will commence construction shortly. FLINT, MI The North Flint Food Market is eyeing its grand opening for late 2024 in a low-access area of the city. FARMER CITY, IL The community of 1,800 has been without a grocery store since 2016 and in 2023 turned to the cooperative model. In March, the community celebrated the Articles of Incorporation on what will become the Farm to City Harvest Store. BATTLE CREEK, MI The in-development Uproot Market & Eatery (formerly Sprout Co-op) began its search for its first General Manager. #whoownsyourgrocerystore #groceryretail #cooperatives