A Recipe for Success – 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 launches its membership drive, Saturday, September 13^th, 2008. Meet the committed Board of Directors and food community builder, Jennifer M. Hall, at the East End Neighborhood Block Party at the corner of Browne & West Main, from noon – 8 pm. The event makes official the identity of this area of downtown, bursting with creative, local entrepreneurs.  Featuring four live bands, street booths from many of the businesses, fire truck tours for the kids and plates of homemade BBQ!

Member owned. Locally Driven.

"We began planning the membership drive after we heard from several people who said they would definitely become a member of the co-op" the Cooperative’s board member, Patricia Sampson, said. "Several people have inquired about membership through our website. So far, we are pleased with the response, and now we need to broaden our base of support through this community event."

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.

According to Jim Haynes, Co-op board member, small-scale businesses and co-ops frequently are undercapitalized for their start-up. "It is a priority for Main Market Cooperative," he said, "to be a thriving and responsive business by opening with as much community financial backing as possible."

General memberships, and the associated benefits, can be purchased for $195.00, which equates to $180.00 in member equity, and an administrative allocation of $15.00. This represents a paid-in-full amount, with discounts and benefits that last a lifetime, and increase in value the more you use the store. Low-income memberships, student shopper rates, payment plans and upfront payment discounts exist as well, ensuring access for a diverse Co-op member community.  All member equity will be held in escrow as collateral, should the Co-op need to secure additional loans for development. Like other regional cooperatives, when a member leaves Main Market Co-op for any reason, the equity portion of membership can be refunded upon request.

Member benefits begin immediately with a voting voice on co-op related issues and e-communication and once open, expand to include member shopping discount options, special rates to rent a freezer locker and free or discounted admittance to educational seminars, to name just a few. A membership will not be necessary to shop at the store, but does add greatly to the ability of the co-op to offer more resources back to the larger community.

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.

New Retail Location.

As soon as Main Market Cooperative achieves its fundraising goals, work will commence in 2009 on its NEWLY designated permanent home, the current Goodyear Tire building at 44 W. Main Street. The new location has considerably increased space compared to the previous slated location on 17 West Main Street. The over 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. To help the doors open sooner, a limited number of charter memberships are available. For an additional $100.00 contribution, the names of these generous early supporters will be on permanent display in the new store.  Other levels of individual and business partnership and recognition are available, with suggestions on our web site at http://www.mainmarket.coop/25,membership.

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. Main Market Co-op represents a true grassroots project, without built-in corporate resources.  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.  Come Dream, Learn and Build with Us!”