Capital City Market Cooperative plans to meet July 30 to give an update on efforts to move a grocery cooperative into the space soon to be vacated by the Alaskan and Proud grocery.
Co-op founders have been busy since they first met in early May.
Since its first meeting the cooperative adopted bylaws, formed a licensed corporation and now holds an Alaska business license.
It has been an interesting process and a real learning process,” Greg Fisk, cooperative steering committee member said.
Now the cooperative is soliciting founding members for contributions of $500 to help fund a “full-blown market study,” Fisk said. “(These are) people who would be first investing.”
Half of the $500 goes toward a lifetime membership in the co-op and half goes to start-up costs, like the study.
Fisk estimates the study will cost around $12,000. He said Cooperative Marketing Services would conduct the study.
Fundraising is going well, Fisk said.
“We’ve got tremendous interest,” Fisk said. “We already have in hand about enough money to kick off the study.” Fisk expects the co-op will have sufficient funds in hand by end of Monday’s meeting.
“Everyone is concerned with there being a good grocery story downtown,” Fisk said.
The cooperative’s future is not guaranteed.
A cooperative takes longer to open its doors than a conventional grocer, Fisk said.
“Our effort might be for naught,” Fisk said.
However, Fisk said the long-term business prospects for a cooperative are very good. And the Foodland Center is a good site, he said.
Fisk said the image of food cooperatives as funky and not very business-like is wrong. Recreational Equipment Incorporated and Central Market in Seattle are examples of “extremely well run” cooperatives, Fisk said.
“We think the model is really good. It is just a matter of timing,” Fisk said.
If Capital City Market doesn’t inhabit the spot left by Alaskan and Proud when it closes in September, Fisk said he hopes a good grocer moves in.
“Someone innovative and community oriented,” Fisk said. “That is so essential to the city. If we’re needed, we’re trying to get ready.”
Also since the co-op’s May meeting, funds from the University of Alaska helped pay to send Greg Fisk and Evelyn Rousso to visit food cooperatives in Seattle and to an annual cooperative conference in Philadelphia.
Greg Fisk, Evelyn Rousso, Sally Schlichting, Odin Brudie and Patty Ware make up the co-op’s steering committee. Doug Mertz is legal counsel.
The cooperative plans to meet July 30 at 5 p.m. at 126 Seward Street in the offices of NorthWind Architects. The meeting is open to the public.
Those interested can find out more about the co-op, or donate to become a founding member at the July 30 meeting.
Contact the Capital City Market Cooperative at capitalcitymarketjuneau@gmail.com.
• Contact reporter Russell Stigall at 523-2276 or at russell.stigall@juneauempire.com.
Comments (34)
Add commentBoondoggle!!!!
Why didn't they use public funds to study coops in South America; they were flying south, right? Does Juneau really need an "economic development " project funded with grant money to sell groceries. The hands are held out fill them with $$$$$.
new office
The state is looking to find a place for more state offices ??? Do it like they did in the Mend. Mall the parking is there. But that would be tooooo easy. I said this as it would be a better use of the buildig than a coop that may or may not work. and it would not cost as much as building a new state office buildig.
What about the property?
I thought the whole site was for sale. Could the co-op lose their site right after opening?
pay attention to the topic "yes but"
This article is about the pending food "co-op" to replace Foodland grocery store. It has nothing to do with the state finding more office space or the Mendenhall Mall.
Not likely
Isnt a food coop like a Costco thing with a membership? Can you imagine the number of downtown folks or State workers who will NOT be shopping at a members-only store? I don't think the small numbers of downtown families can utilize that huge space with success...but good luck to them if it doesn't affect me financially. I shop at Costco and Fred's for the most part.
This seems like wishful thinking with a predictable outcome but who knows?
Question
I understand the $500 founding member charge. $250 is supposed to go toward a lifetime membership. If this co-op does not make it off the ground, is that $250 going to be refunded? Is it being held in escrow against that possibility? If not as intriguing as this possibility may be, it starts to feel more like a scam.
According to the most recent co-op email update...
@middleoftheroad... The store would not be members only, it would be open to the public. Members would be eligible for discounts and other benefits.
@lvmykyk... The $500 would be at risk.
Too many rumors, not enough facts.
Really not sure a true co-op would work in this town, especially with the food prices the way they are. Requiring a membership fee to have shopping rights will certainly limit the audience. And if your not a co-op member and you're allowed to shop there, you usually pay the penalty of not receiving a members discount on your purchase. Granted, as with any co-op, there would probably be a yearly dividend for the members, but Fred Meyer's Rewards has quarterly dividends and Carr's also has Rewards, both with no cost to the shopper. Costco is not a co-op, so it doesn't fit into the realm of what a co-op does for all it's members, unless you pay top dollar for the Executive Gold card, or what ever that thing is. Then and only then, do you get something back from Costco.
In the foray of curiosity about what is going to happen to the space, I've heard that there's a buyer and that they were going to do major renovation. Who? I also heard that Carr's may be taking it over. To me, the latter makes sense. It would be a terrific move on their part and a showing that they are truly invested in this community. With their additional buying power, food prices in the downtown area would finally be more reasonable than A&P's has ever been.
@HanSolo
Thank you for answering my question. I think I will hold off to see what happens before investing. Thank you again.
Art - Agree - buying power
Art - Agree - buying power will drive down cost to the supplier and the consumer.
Doing market research is important to any start-up business. I would hope all prospective business owners are doing this.
Newlife - If all "learning" was done via Google, we wouldn't have a need for University and other schooling institutions. Have you ever tried to collaborate and then experience great success by reading an article?
Don't ask why
30Year-- My friend and I would like a vacation outside; maybe you could give us $500 walkin around money and call the U to grant us travel, hotels and meals?? Be Cooperative!!
Snagger...
I made no comment to the coop group's funding source. I didn't have enough information to pass judgment. I do not support funding your vacations and it has nothing to do with cooperation.
happy with anything
I just want a place to buy groceries downtown. Don't care what the sign over the door reads.
geeze snagger - - -
is there anything you like?
It would be interesting to have some more information about the UAS funding and why that was given - but
otherwise, this appears to be a bunch of people getting together with their own money to open a store, that other people would be able to shop at, and ownership of that store would entitle them to discounts and a share of any profits. Since when is it wrong to ask people to invest their own money in your idea? Alaska Brewery did just that in the 80's.......
Sounds like good local business to me, and I hope it does well!
University of Alaska financial assistance
The funding for travel came from the University of Alaska's Cooperative Development Program. This program is designed to provide support and technical assistance to prospective cooperatives.
You can read more about it at:
http://ced.uaa.alaska.edu/acdp/index.html
What about a Trader Joe's?
I agree that to us that live downtown, a grocery store is important. Although I have a car, I enjoy the walk to the Foodland Shopping Center to grocery shop. It would be ideal for Rainbow Foods to upgrade or to get Trader Joe's in Juneau. I think with the consumers downtown and the opportunity for a new market available that an organic grocer would be a perfect fit.
Half of you need to start
Half of you need to start reading the whole article or slow your skimming down.
I hope a co-op gets it going. It's working for the reddog. Honesty I also just hope something goes in there. Dt needs a grocery way more then anything else.
@roughcut
I'm so glad there is an "ignore user" button for you. I've never read a pertinent post from you.
Ignored.....!
Why do these conversations
get so ugly? Of course any grocer in the space would be ideal. The article was supposed to help inform our community regarding a potential solution. We are Juneauites. As long as there is a local feel to the company and we have a place to go grocery shopping we should be happy.
Carrs/Safeway Not Local
Safeway has a lot of really poor quality seafood. They won't by from local fisherman. Their deli is also pre-fabbed crap and so is the soup.
These "conversations" get
These "conversations" get "ugly" when some liberal poster doesn't have anything to add to the conversation so the personal attacks start - talking to you austin.
I disagree that "any grocer in the space would be ideal" and "as long as there is a local feel to the company".
I was doing a little research on grocery co-ops and they seem to fill a niche market. And being blunt, I don't think one will work in Juneau. I would say that the workers won't beable to make a living wage and I don't see how the food prices will be reasonable. They seem to trend organic and really any grocery store has enough of those products on their shelves now, in my opinion.
Also it takes a big boatload of money to start one. These co-ops seem to depend on local growers and bakers, etc. and I don't see that working in Juneau.
But, I commend this group for thinking outside the box. However, when do they come begging to the city for "loans" or some kind of financing?
I think Juneau would go a long way to start welcoming ANY business into town and quit all this local first stuff. Obviously there aren't people lining up outside city hall to get business licenses and permits. It's quaint to a point to have these little, unique towns but they seldom work, especially being land locked.
Profit margins on food are low and even in big cities it's hard to keep a grocery store running. Even WalMart is starting to put in smaller stores called markets - less overhead, etc. Don't waste any time wishing for a Trader Joes - they hardly ever build a new store and they're really picky about where they expand.
Is the realtor or city snooping around and getting the word out far and wide that there's an opportunity for a downtown grocer? Gotta market real estate possibilities.
Calypso, I think you might be
Calypso,
I think you might be right on this one. I'll believe this co-op idea will work when I actually see it working for a certain duration.
Actually, I shop at Walmart.
And I like guns. That's not why I gave you a "thumbs-down" earlier, Rough Butt. I just hate your asinine, inflammatory comments.
Actually, it was 20th Century
Actually, it was 20th Century Market. It was were downtown McDuck's was. They had a painting of a California orange grove on the wall.
Lets be patient
I believe the co-op is operating in good faith, lets be patient and let them resolve this. I like A&P. I was just there today. I bought a few non-essentials and noticed when grabbing my bottle of A.1. that some of the shelves are being allowed to go bare. I guess that is to be expected, they don't want to ship the merchandise to other stores.
But what I don't see is a crisis. Downtown and Douglas has other food for sale. Rainbow Foods is a quality operation, and Breeze In is also just across the bridge, available for non-essentials. And for $2 (on August 1) you can take a 30 minute ride to Walmart or Costco, etc., a little longer to Safeway or Super Bear. The only pending "crisis" we face is the lack of convenience we now have downtown @ A&P.
So, with respect, lets relax. Worst case, we might not have a full service market downtown for a few months. We will get by.
Lets be patient
I believe the co-op is operating in good faith, lets be patient and let them resolve this. I like A&P. I was just there today. I bought a few non-essentials and noticed when grabbing my bottle of A.1. that some of the shelves are being allowed to go bare. I guess that is to be expected, they don't want to ship the merchandise to other stores.
But what I don't see is a crisis. Downtown and Douglas has other food for sale. Rainbow Foods is a quality operation, and Breeze In is also just across the bridge, available for non-essentials. And for $2 (on August 1) you can take a 30 minute ride to Walmart or Costco, etc., a little longer to Safeway or Super Bear. The only pending "crisis" we face is the lack of convenience we now have downtown @ A&P.
So, with respect, lets relax. Worst case, we might not have a full service market downtown for a few months. We will get by.
neither is Fred's
Carrs/Safeway Not Localnew
Safeway has a lot of really poor quality seafood. They won't by from local fisherman. Their deli is also pre-fabbed crap and so is the soup.
ALL the deli and seafood from Fred Meyers is shipped out of the warehouse on Sunnyside Road in Portland Oregon. The shipment is order from someone who does not even live in the state, its a store set base someone clicks the item and its sent. Its the same way for Costco, they have no say in items. They can request it be sent back, but thats not always the case. Popular items and considered "seasonal" for Alaska, even though its an everyday item staple for us.
We just want a grocery store in that space
I personally am open to ideas and the co-op is an idea. I do shop at Freddy's and Costco but it's inconvenient for last minute items as I live in town. Rainbow Foods is great but has short hours and breeze in doesn't carry produce or meats. I won't pretend to fully understand the idea of this co-op but am I incorrect that Alaska Brewery started in a similar way? With contributions and investments from locals? It is now a thriving company that benefits our community and has branched out to many other states. This could be a good thing.