Charlotte to get a Grocery Co-Op?

In the previous post, we discussed the large national natural foods retailer Whole Foods and their inability to come to a solid decision on building a Charlotte location. Something else that does not have a true presence in Charlotte is a grocery cooperative, or co-op, which some may dub the "Anti-Whole Foods." As much as we hate to compare Charlotte to other cities in the Carolinas, which we realize was done at length in the previous post, it's only natural to do so. We've had local and organic markets that have prospered despite increased competition, such as Home Economist and Berrybrook Farm, and those that have not, like Charlotte's original Talley's and the short-lived Nude Food. But what is the difference between one of those stores and a co-op? CoOpDirectory.org has a good explanation as to what a grocery co-op exactly is. Additionally, we liked the explanation that was provided by The Flatbush Food Co-Op in Brooklyn: "A coop is simply a business entity owned and managed by its members. A group of people get together, pool some money (called equity), and purchase whatever goods they want at a lower price than going elsewhere, since there are no profits to be skimmed off." Many co-op's have gone all-organic, as well, and try to buy as much local and sustainable food as possible.

Co-ops in the North Carolina include Asheville's French Broad Food Co-op and Haywood Road Market, Carrboro/Chapel Hill's popular Weaver Street Market, which includes satellite loactions in Southern Village and Hillsborough in Orange County as well, Durham's Co-Op, Greensboro's Deep Roots and Wilmington's Tidal Creek Market. Co-ops are located in some of NC's smaller municaplities as well, like Boone's Rich Harvest, Hendersonville's Co-Op, Pittsboro's Chatham Marketplace and Elon's Company Shops. Fayetteville has even landed a Co-op, Lafayette Market, which is modeled after Chatham Marketplace.

So that brings us to the question: Will Charlotte establish a true cooperative grocer? According to a source, one may be in the works for a NoDa (North Davidson district) location perhaps. Stay tuned...