Portland Food Co-Op Launches Member/Owner Drive This Week

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Remember When?

Remember  The Good Old Days?  Mmmmm – just Barely!

By Carol McCracken  (Post # 1,700)

Last month Daniel Ungier, President of the Board of the Portland Food Co-op, (“FPC”) announced at a press conference, that the non-profit had signed a lease to open a full-service grocery store at 290 Congress Street with the Catholic Church of Portland who owns the shopping plaza.  The much-anticipated grocery store is scheduled to open in September 2014 and will be open to the public.

This week the group launched a member/owner drive that will support the establishment of the grocery store as well as give the members a voice in the direction of the store.  Member/owners have already begun to participate in discussions on the interior design of the 5,000 sq. ft. building.  Another meeting of member/owners is scheduled for the end of February with the project’s architects.  The PFC hopes to get 100 new members within the next few days with the goal of getting 1,400 new member-owners by Spring.  The cost is $100.

In order to call attention to this drive, the Time and Temperature Building on Congress Street in downtown Portland, is flashing the words “FOOD COOP” to help increase awareness.  The emphasis is on locally  produced food, although the exact parameters are yet to be determined.   The location is central making it easily walkable with plenty of parking and close to 295 for drivers.

290 Congress Street is also known as the RiteAid Pharmacy.  It has just started to undergo a major renovation project that will be carried out mostly at night.

Please visit www.portlandfood.coop for more information.