February 10, 2010 in Food

Co-op celebrates opening

Mayor Verner plans to attend natural grocery’s kick-off

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The Main Market Co-op has an array of public events planned for its grand opening celebration next week.

The co-op, a natural foods grocery, at 44 W. Main Ave., will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday at 1 p.m. Spokane Mayor Mary Verner and the co-op’s president, John Grollmus, will be there.

The store opened in late January after about two years of planning and construction. Crews transformed the former Goodyear Tire at Browne Street and Main Avenue. The store sells seasonal produce, bulk foods, chef-prepared takeout and personal, home and pet supplies.

The co-op also has a rooftop garden, event space, rentable freezer lockers and a seasonal outdoor seating area.

A deli area includes a community table engraved with the poem “Perhaps the World Ends Here,” by Joy Harjo. She will attend the Tuesday ribbon cutting, which is free and open to the public.

The building meets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards, which are part of an internationally recognized green building certification system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. The co-op used the building’s footprint, erected the store’s sign on an existing fixture and preserved the paintings of cars inside a garage on the outside wall of the building.

The store will have daily drawings for prizes during the week. Other events planned during the co-op’s grand opening include:

Monday: Reception for poet Harjo and kick-off to grand-opening week. Light appetizers made in the Main Market kitchen will be served at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for members, $25 for nonmembers and must be purchased by Friday. Sponsored by Downtown Spokane Partnership and Doubletree Hotel Spokane City Center.

Wednesday, Feb. 17: Watch the movie “FRESH” at the Magic Lantern Theatre, at 25 W. Main Ave., across the street from the co-op, 7 p.m. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

Thursday, Feb. 18: Free half-gallon of milk from Spokane’s Family Farm with a purchase of $15 worth of items or more, while supplies last.

Friday, Feb. 19: “Behind the Scenes” guided tour of the co-op, 4 p.m. Free.

Saturday, Feb. 20: “In The Field” event at Craven’s Coffee with coffee cupping, or coffee tasting, and local sweets, 9:30 a.m. Ticket purchase required by Monday, $12 for members and $17 for the general public.

Tickets for the events can be purchased at www.mainmarket.coop.

Anyone can shop at the Main Market Co-op. Members receive discounts on tickets to events and freezer lockers and save at members-only sales, among other benefits. The first members-only sale days are March 26 and 27.

At 6 p.m. on March 8, Peter Tobin, a chef and instructor at the Inland Northwest Culinary Academy, will demonstrate how to cook great home-style dishes using a whole chicken. The class is $30 for members and $40 for nonmembers.

The store is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. Reach the co-op office at (509) 458-2667.

Two comments on this story so far. Add yours!

• 

  sixandseven on February 10 at 10:36 p.m.

  Way overpriced. I wont be spending $2.00 for a green pepper.

  They have way too many different wines for a store that small and very few organic and few Washington Wines.

  There was no reason to have 2 check out people standing around like sharks panting for a quick kill.

  The stuff in their deli window…well may taste good certainly wasn’t very attractive. I cant wait till the summer when all that light and heat cooks the place.

  Here is an excellent article “11 Items You Don’t Have to Buy Organic”

  http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/TIP02559

• 

  The_Spovangelist on February 20 at 1:07 p.m.

  This is such exciting and wonderful news for Spokane. I have never seen such a diverse audience of customers in a natural foods grocery co-op before. This store will provide a whole new level of access to healthy local and organic foods to everyone.

  Re: sixandseven
  I won’t be buying peppers out of season either, but there are dozens of other great produce options at the co-op that are competitively priced. I know because I have meticulously checked and compared. Many items will change as the Market can gauge local demand, and as new, locally produced options become more available.

  I am very excited to be able to buy most of my groceries in bulk at relatively low cost. The deli counter has inspired me to learn to cook with lentils, beans and beets from scratch. And I had no idea that bulk spices were so much more affordable. I’ll be relying on bulk almonds and will stay away from the walnut$ for now.

  Cheers to all the wonderful member-owners who have invested in this fantastic resource for the whole community!