A New Kind Of Grocery Store Is Coming To Grand Rapids

Over the last couple of years, the US has seen grocery prices fluctuate on very different ends of the spectrum, from record egg prices to record beef prices. Michiganders' wallets are being squeezed more and more these days, leading shoppers to seek alternatives to simply going to their nearest supermarket.

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One alternative is visiting a farmer's market, where local farmers sell their goods directly to shoppers at lower prices. However, the long winter months aren't very market-friendly. But what if I told you there was a new type of grocery store in the works here in Grand Rapids that would combine the benefits of a farmer's market with the stability of a storefront?

That's the goal of the Grand Rapids Food Co-Op, which aims to give food independence back to the community through a food co-op. I spoke to Bryan Hejistek, the outreach coordinator of the Grand Rapids Food Co-Op, about what it is, why people should shop there, and what it will take to make this dream a reality.

What is a food co-op?

A food co-op is a grocery store owned and operated by people in the community. Rather than relying primarily on imported goods, food co-ops put a high value on sourcing from local farmers and producers to help provide produce and other goods to stock shelves.

READ MORE: More Cinnabon & Auntie Anne’s Opening at Meijer in Grand Rapids |

This keeps the money earned and spent at the market in the local community. Food co-ops are found throughout the country, including those in Kalamazoo, Ypsilanti, Detroit, Traverse City, and many more.

Hejistek claims that shopping at a food co-op is one of the best ways to give back to the community. Around thirty percent of the produce typically comes from local suppliers, and every dollar spent at a food co-op generates approximately $1.60 in the local food economy. Food not supplied by locals is provided by national co-ops or other distributors, such as the National Co-op Grocers.

How Is It Different Than A Store Like Meijer?

While big-box stores report to investors, the co-op is entirely owned by its members, who have bought in on the store's vision. Hejstek went on to say that the food co-op will employ local workers, and the store will be run by a GM appointed by a Board of Directors. Anyone who buys into the store as an "owner" can vote on store-related decisions, making this a completely democratic run business. 

A GM and an Operations manager would run the store day-to-day. "Owners" vote on who is on the board, ensuring people who best support the mission of the food co-op are the ones running the store operations.

How To Support the Co-Op

Currently, the co-op is in the site-searching phase for the best location to build its 10,000-square-foot store. To secure the necessary funding for the building and have enough community buy-in to make the store profitable, the Grand Rapids Food Co-Op is looking for 1,000 households to become owners of the store. 

At the time of writing, there are 976 owner households. While you do not need to be a store owner to shop there, store owners receive special discounts and a share of the profits based on how much you shop there.

Types of Owner-Members

• Standard Share: $250/household (paid in whole or in 10 monthly installments of $26)
• Food For All Share: $25 (for individuals with financial constraints, payable in full or five monthly payments of $6)
• Scholarship Share: Free, for those who are unemployed or have minimal income. Funded by our scholarship fund, which relies on donations from community members.

If you are eco-friendly, concerned with sustainability, or are looking to make the city feel more like a town by building a community, shopping, or becoming an owner of a co-op, it could be for you.

Visit grfoodcoop.com for more information.