A co-op is a community owned and democratically governed enterprise that operates for the benefit of its member-owners. See What is a Co-op (https://www.wasatch.coop/what-is-a-co-op)for more information.

We signed a lease for a 5,950 square-foot store at 416 East 900 South in Salt Lake City. We are taking over the old Southeast Asian Market building a few blocks west of Liberty Park in the Harvey Milk District. See more (https://www.wasatch.coop/our-store)about the building.

We are planning to open in fall 2025. The future site is currently under construction, and the fundraising efforts towards opening our doors continue.

There are many benefits to becoming a member-owner! You are directly investing in a business that supports the local food economy and gives back to the community in so many ways. You get a vote in how the co-op runs. For most co-ops, member-owners receive regular discounts in the store, and in profitable years, get a dividend. On average, about $0.60 of every dollar spent in a co-op goes back to the local economy. We are committed to strengthening Utah’s food economy by helping to build and sustain the local food systems and infrastructure. We will accomplish this by making it a priority to buy local products, pay fair prices to growers and producers, and pprovide living wages to our store employees. Additionally, co-ops act as incubators for other new local businesses, further strengthening the local economy.

According to Food Co-op Initiative, we can expect to be on par with most of them when we open, depending on the specific product. Once we’ve been open for a year, we can elect to join the National Cooperative Grocers Association, which provides buying power on items we can’t source locally. Pricing on local items will be based on fair-trade evaluations. Member-owners will receive patronage refunds in profitable years, lowering the cost to them a bit more. Co-ops are unique in the consolidated grocery store industry, with their business model aiming to benefit consumers, producers, employees, and the environment. These ideals are costly to uphold. So, if you pay a bit more for a product, know that you are doing good in our community.

The cost of a Class A ownership share is $300. This is a one-time fee for a lifetime membership, giving you a voice in the Co-op. A variety of payment plans are available starting as low as $15 per month.

Nothing more than your monetary investment is required at this stage. Once the store is open, you will need to shop at least once a year. There are, and will continue to be, volunteer opportunities (https://www.wasatch.coop/volunteer)through which you can help, and we always love your participation in our events.(https://www.wasatch.coop/events)

The general public is welcome to shop at the store, but we hope that you share in our vision and decide to invest.

Everyone living in the same household can make purchases on their family member’s account. We hope there’s incentive for each adult to purchase their own ownership.

A CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is a farm or farm-supplied business that regularly delivers food to members on a subscription basis. The Co-op will work more like a conventional grocery store, although we may be supplied by local farms that also operate as CSAs.

It typically takes a co-op on average about 10 years to open. Feasibility studies took time and money, as well as finding a space. We are excited to be in the home stretch.

In the unlikely event that our initiative falls short, and member-owners decide to dissolve the business, all member-owners will receive a pro-rated refund of the capital that remains at the time that decision is made. We do not anticipate that this will happen. It is more likely that the opening date is simply delayed.

Fully fund our store! Learn more about the different ways you can contribute.(https://www.wasatch.coop/contribute)