Being a part of the board, I can attest that we have focused on realizing the ideas and concerns that were raised during both the healing and annual meetings this year. In addition to the regular board meetings, we held an additional retreat that dealt exclusively with the strategic plan goals. However, the news that the building the Co-op currently occupies had changed hands shifted our attention in a new direction. The fact that the current location will loose one of its more attractive features, namely cheap rent, has propelled the board and management to actively explore the course of finding a bigger space which had been charted by the membership several years ago. The board and management are united and excited to move the store to a new location and expand the Co-op to provide local, organic foods and other goods to an expanding membership. (Negotiations are underway for a move to the Lovell Building in Astoria.)

Customer service, one of the most pressing concerns identified by the membership earlier this year, has already shown great improvement—friendly, helpful employees; clean, well-stocked produce cooler; and better shelving to name a few. Members will be able to enjoy even further improvements once the store has been moved. The new store will be housed in a spacious, clean 3000 sq ft space with polished concrete floors, exposed wood beams, and metal duct work to give it a feel of industrial-meets-cozy-historic look, all infused with plenty of daylight coming from big windows (facing north) and sky lights. Obviously, a bigger store means more shelf space. With that comes greater product selection. A second cash register will expedite checkout time. There will also be space to serve soup along with our great sandwiches which can be enjoyed in friendly seating areas available both inside and outdoors. A children’s area is planned to be located close to where people sit down to eat or just meet. The store can be accessed through an easily operated door. Lastly, there is ample parking right outside the store so we can all roll full carts out to our cars.