vision2020
Moscow Food Co-op moves
Yes, the Moscow Food Co-op has outgrown its home in the resurrected
kentucky fried chicken building on Third Street.
The Co-op will move to the site of the existing Third Street Market.
The planning and permits process will take September, and then
renovations and inventory moving will take the rest of the year. The
new store should be open in early January.
The Co-op has been an important part of the Moscow community for 25
years. If you are wondering how you can help the Co-op make the move,
please go to the Co-op and look for one of the yellow "Let's Move"
flyers that lists the Co-op's need for donations, loans, and membership
equity. Or check out the Co-op's website,
<http://users.moscow.com/foodcoop/>.
The press release below provides more details about the move. BL
>
>Moscow Food Co-op Celebrates Anniversary with Move
>
>The Moscow Food Co-op, Inc., will celebrate its 25th anniversary by
moving
>to a larger location, the site of the present Third Street Market at
221
>East Third Street in Moscow, announced Kenna Eaton, co-op general
manager.
>The lease for the space has been signed with Geoff Beckett, owner of
the
>Post Office Square Shopping Center that contains the storefront, and
the
>move is planned for completion in January of 1999.
>The Third Street Market, owned by Mark DeLeve, will be moving to a new
>location. DeLeve plans to downsize the market and open a convenience
store
>in the adjacent storefront in the shopping center, at 217 East Third
Street.
>Mark DeLeve commented: "After 8 years in our present location, we are
>moving to a space more appropriate for our business right next door.
This
>move was made possible by the cooperation of Third Street Market, the
>Moscow Food Co-op and Geoff Beckett, working together to find solutions
>that will benefit everyone involved. We benefit from a more manageable
>space and increased traffic flow from our new neighbors. The community
>benefits because the Food Co-op will be better able to serve its
customers.
> It is a win-win situation."
>All equipment at the Third Street Market that is not needed in the new
>business is now for sale, DeLeve said. The Third Street Market will
>officially close on Wednesday, August 26. His new store will open on
>October 1. DeLeve has not yet selected a name for the new store.
>Kenna Eaton commented: "All of us at the Co-op are very excited about
this
>opportunity. This is a wonderful way to celebrate our 25th
anniversary.
>This larger store will allow us to expand our deli, and offer better
>parking and a much wider selection of locally-produced, organic and
>healthful products. We look forward to serving more customers who are
>searching for fresh and nutritious foods."
>To thank its customers for 25 years of support, the Moscow Food Co-op
is
>also hosting their fourth annual Taste Fair on Saturday, August 29,
from
>10am to 4pm. Under a tent in the parking lot at the present Co-op
>location, 310 West Third, shoppers will be able to sample a variety of
>foods and beverages for free. In addition, the Co-op will give away
door
>prizes, birthday cake, and balloons, Eaton said.
>The financial plan for the Moscow Food Co-op's move to the new location
>includes the expectation of 25 percent sales growth, Eaton said. The
Co-op
>sales for 1997 were $1 million. The projected sales for 1998 are $1.1
>million, and the projected sales in the new location in 1999 are $1.4
>million. The sales area in the store will increase by approximately
250
>percent with the move.
>The Co-op will rely upon both bank loans and support from its
membership to
>finance the move, Eaton explained. The Co-op financial plan expects
the
>membership to provide about $100,000 worth of loans, gifts and
volunteer
>labor to make the move possible.
>"We are counting on our members to support us, just like they always
have
>in the past," she said. "We presented this plan to our members at a
>meeting on Monday (August 10, 1998) and got unanimous support for the
>decision. Our members are so wonderful that I'm sure we will get all
the
>support we need."
>During August and September, the Co-op staff will finalize plans for
the
>new location and obtain the necessary permits, Eaton said. Renovation
will
>continue from October through December. On December 31, the Co-op will
>close at the present location, 310 West Third. Moving of inventory and
>furnishings will be completed from January 1 through 4 of 1999. The
Moscow
>Food Co-op is scheduled to reopen at the new location on January 5,
1999.
>The Moscow Food Co-op opened in August of 1973, in a tiny storefront on
>Second Street, as the Good Food Store. The first month's sales were
>$126.88. The second month's sales were $1,100.
>In August of 1975, the name Moscow Food Co-op was officially adopted
with
>the move to 610 S. Main Street, across from the fire station. In 1976,
the
>Co-op moved to the southeast corner of A and Washington Streets and
began
>the Moscow Farmer's Market, which is now the town's summertime Saturday
>tradition in Friendship Square.
>In October of 1978, the Co-op moved to 314 South Washington Street. In
>1989, the Co-op outgrew that storefront and moved to its present
location,
>the former Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant at 310 West Third Street.
>With that move, sales increased by 43 percent in 1990 to more than
$500,000.
>Also in 1990, the Co-op opened the Upper Crust Bakery. The deli,
offering
>sandwiches, soups and salads, was added in 1991. In 1998, the Co-op's
>website debuted at http://users.moscow.com/foodcoop/.
>
>
>
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