Medford Food Co-op

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Comment by HealthFoodMart on January 14, 2010 at 10:17am

I have supported this movement throughout it's process, but I feel the time has come to end this effort, as it has become so convoluted and without direction, it can only be a failure, even if the money is raised to get it open.

Looks like someone couldn't hold up their end of the bargain in regards to disclosing the potential location's Business Name and now things are more confused than ever, going into what should be the home stretch of fund raising?!? Now rather than creating a new community service, this looks like a bailout for a failing local business.

Not sure how anyone could consider this a "downtown" location? Location requirements were to call for a location within 1 mile of the Corner of Main and Riverside...this is a bit outside of that footprint.

It is really too bad...this concept deserves to be so much more open and better at serving the whole community.

Sorry, but I'll no longer be recommending people investing in this obviously tainted effort to open community food store, which now appears to be just another grocery store...one that will displace a long-running family business by ruining any remaining credibility it may have had, and forcing into early closure. The Co-Op and the Mail Tribune owe the Quality Market family an apology for their part in bringing their legacy to an end.

Comment by Gary Bowles on January 14, 2010 at 9:43am

Food co-op could be on E. Jackson, source says
January 14, 2010

By Greg Stiles also by Chris Conrad Mail Tribune
MEDFORD — Quality Market on East Jackson Street is the front-running contender for the site of the proposed Medford Food Co-op, the Mail Tribune has learned.
Co-op board president Jim Sims would not confirm or deny the location at a meeting of cooperative members Wednesday night. "Nothing is set in stone yet," Sims said. "We should announce the location within the next few days if it works out."
The source who told the Mail Tribune about the plan to open the co-op in the Quality Market building spoke on condition of anonymity. Sims told the more than 75 members gathered at the Medford library that the owner of the proposed location was not comfortable announcing the name of his business prior to reaching an agreement.
Sims did say it was a working store that has equipment and employees in place to get the co-op up and running after a smooth transition. He said the workers would remain employed at the site and would be re-trained to learn the ins and outs of working at a co-op. Sims said the co-op has been in discussions with the owner of the location for more than a year. He also said it is a working store near downtown.
Near the end of the meeting, the members voted to go forward with the proposal if the two sides were able to reach an agreement. They were told not to speculate openly about the proposed location. "Nothing is final until a lease is signed," said board member John Miele, a Central Point resident.
Last year, co-op organizers identified a Bear Creek Plaza location as the top possible location of the store, which could open in 2010. Other leading contenders were the former Spearco building on the corner of North Fir and Fourth streets and the former Foodland site on Stewart Avenue.
"The other sites haven't been totally eliminated," Miele said. "But this new proposed site is preferable. It's fair to say it's already a retail establishment."
In an e-mail to members, Sims wrote: "This location is an existing commercial establishment the exact size we've been looking for. It has existing trained employees who are willing to continue. It has in place required equipment for our use, and the site is centrally located in Medford.
Quality Market, at 1211 E. Jackson St., is 8,976 square feet. Pending approval and the ability to raise $490,000 toward opening, the co-op will set up shop in June. Board members would not say how much money had been raised so far."We've got a ways to go," Miele said.
Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463; or e-mail him at gstiles@mailtribune.com. Reach reporter Chris Conrad at 541-776-4471; or e-mail cconrad@mailtribune.com.

Comment by Gary Bowles on December 3, 2009 at 11:56am

MEDFORD FOOD CO-OP NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

The MFC annual meeting of owners and election of new Board members will be Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at the Medford Public Library, 205 S Central Ave at 6:00 PM. A bylaw amendment vote to allow Notice to owners by email and general newspaper publication is recommended by the Board for approval. Refreshments will be served.

Comment by Gary Bowles on December 3, 2009 at 11:48am

Medford FOOD CO-OP
11.16.09

Dear Owner

We are moving forward with our target goal to open our Food Co-op store in 2010. While most new businesses rely on banks for financing, we are relying on our community to co-operate in underwriting the opening of our store. Once we’ve raised the capital to open for business, we have a couple of local banks who have expressed interest in becoming involved. As one of our Co-op owners, we are asking you to consider doing two things: 1) consider making a promissory note agreement with us to help provide start-up capital and 2) as an existing owner, support our effort by purchasing from one to twenty “booster” shares.

Here’s our money back guarantee to you: If we do not open the store for business by June 30, 2010, the board of directors’ offers you a full refund of the principal amount you loaned, and we’ll also offer you a full refund on any new booster shares. We’ll hold these invested monies in trust in the bank to guarantee our pledge to you.

Our overall fundraising goals are achievable: we plan to raise $20,000 in community events and $140,000 in Founder Sponsorships, find 750 new share owners, and at least 33 of our current owners willing to loan their Medford Food Co-op $5,000, with terms from 1-10 years at up to 4% annual interest. Once we’ve accomplished these goals, we’ll be eligible for additional bank financing. However, most of the capital necessary to open the store, we plan to raise within the community. It’s how Co-ops organize themselves—through co-operative community effort.

Once your Medford Food Co-op is open, it will be successful. We already have more than 1100 owners…and did you know that 20% of the people who shop at Ashland Food Co-op travel from Medford! If you’re one of them, we can save you the $200+/yr that you pay to drive there by opening our own co-op right here. We already have more than enough customers. Now we just need to open the doors.

Please review the enclosed loan questionnaire printed on the return envelope flap that was provided. If you are ready to help, we’ll follow up with you in the next couple of weeks to discuss your feelings about the owner loan program and find out if you would like to meet, personally, with a member of the Co-op board.

Consider making a co-operative investment in our community. Issue a Co-op loan. Buy more shares. Both will pay dividends in many ways.

Please feel free to call me directly with any questions.

Sincerely,
(signed)
Jim Sims
President, Medford Food Co-op
541-779-7292

Should you decide to purchase additional owner shares, please use the enclosed envelop to send in your check, as well as the questionnaire. You can also purchase owner shares via credit card on our website at http://medfordfoodcoop.com.

Comment by Gary Bowles on November 7, 2009 at 11:35pm

Medford Food Co-op picks site
It's former Toys for the Home store

November 07, 2009
Anita Burke
By Anita Burke
Mail Tribune

The Medford Food Co-op has narrowed its choice of sites to one — the former Toys for the Home store next to TJ Maxx in Bear Creek Plaza — but it hasn't yet signed a lease for that location.

"We are negotiating terms," said co-op board member John Miele, adding that the owner of the Biddle Road shopping center was eager to work with the co-op.

He explained that the roughly 22,000-square-foot store has more than twice as much retail space as the co-op would need, so the board is working out a way to divide it, as well as hashing out financial details of the lease.

"We have a strong obligation to all members in the community to ensure that the co-op is successful once it opens," Miele said. "The first step in that is getting a lease on favorable terms."

A previous effort to establish a natural foods co-op in Medford foundered in 2007, in part because organizers signed a lease and started renovations before they had full funding in place, thus spending their seed money well before they could start relying on operating revenue.

"We aren't going to make that error again," said Jim Sims, president of the current co-op's board.

The board eliminated the former Spearco building at Fourth and Fir streets from consideration as a possible location because extensive renovations far exceeded the start-up's budget, Sims said. The site was favored by members in an informal poll this summer.

Negotiations for the former Foodland store on Stewart Avenue in southwest Medford — the second most popular site in the summer poll — have stalled, co-op officials said.

They pointed out that Bear Creek Plaza is easily accessible and has lots of shoppers, but no grocery store. The center's owner has offered to make store improvements and provide other incentives, co-op representatives said.

In order to move forward, the co-op is making a push to raise $500,000 needed to open a store next year. So far, it has collected about $30,000, Sims said.

Miele said it will need 750 new members to purchase $100 shares by March, as well as corporate sponsorships and booster efforts from its 1,300 members who joined the previous effort, to meet financial goals.

The co-op is kicking off a major fundraising drive, paid for by sponsors. A family-fundraising event featuring a magician and a kid-friendly menu is set for 3 p.m. Nov. 22 at Grilla Bites, 226 E. Main St., Medford. Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for kids ages 8 through 12, and free for kids 7 and younger. Anyone who buys a membership share for $100 at the event gets in for free.

People can buy membership shares or find out more about loans and sponsorships in support of the co-op at www.medfordfoodcoop.com or by calling Robin Brown at 826-9355.

Sims said all money raised through memberships and loans is held in trust and will be refunded if the store doesn't open by June 30, 2010.

"You can't wait to join when it opens," he said. "We have to generate financing first, so we can open."

While supporters must provide the core financing, the co-op has teamed with two local banks that have agreed to provide lines of credit when membership targets are met, he said.

If fundraising and lease negotiations meet the March deadline, buying and installing equipment, stocking inventory and hiring a general manager and other employees would take another two months, Miele said.

The store — which would feature local produce, meat raised in Oregon without hormones, bulk foods and high-quality general grocery items — could open in June.

Comment by Steven Kraft on May 6, 2009 at 7:57am

Gary, Thank you for adding us to the roguecurrent. I think this will be an exciting spot to branch out to.