New co-op has big ambitions

The Anacortes Food Co-op, open since July 2016, is probably the state’s newest. And they have already moved to a bigger space, occupying 1,500 square feet – retail is 1,000 square feet, including Rachel’s Cool Beans Cafe – at 2308 Commercial Avenue since February. Coming from La Conner, you can’t miss it on the west side of the street: the “Enjoy Skagit Maid Ice Cream” covering the wall is larger than the store’s sign.

The co-op’s vision: “a member-owned grocery store bringing food, goods, and services that are local, organic or sustainably grown; creating a gathering place for education about food, health, sustainability and local resources” is lived as well as believed by Executive Director Sheri Muntean. Her determined enthusiasm is palpable as she emphasizes their commitment to “close personal friendships with farmers and vendors and only bringing in sustainable stocks sourced as close as possible.”

Successful organizing has increased the membership to 450, with a goal of 500 by the growth in two years for a region of around 20,000 people. Membership is $200 for “life:” $100 is stock and ownership; the second $100 is an “annual fee” paid over four years. The co-op self-funded the store renovation and build out of $62,000.

Muntean is thrilled to be in an historic grocery store “remembered by many Anacortes natives for its penny candies and local treats.” She is equally proud of the co-op’s commitment to community, stressing that it is a “social business” sensitive to providing food access to everyone. Member donations buy free memberships for limited income people with EBT – Electronic Benefit Transfer – cards.

The legal name “Woven Dreams Anacortes Food Co-op, comes from co-founder Brian Jo and high school friends. The co-op opened July 14th – Bastille Day – in the back of Jo’s Tokyo Japanese Restaurant. Muntean calls Jo an “energizer bunny” and marvels at his dreams and drive.

Muntean has plenty of drive herself, as well as a CPA’s business smarts. She notes that the five-member board is a best practice approach to governance: Three is a quorum and they have the option of enlarging the board. She is aiming for financial sustainability in the short term, targeting $30,000 monthly sales by March. That’s quite a leap from the $41,000 grossed in the last half of 2016. Convinced of community, she says “if half our members spent $50 per week we would exceed $40,000.”

She praises the assistance provided by Sasha von Dassow, of San Juan Island Transport. He has done more than provide local foodstuffs and added the store to his route between San Juan, Orcas, Lopez and I-5. Von Dassow’s relationship is deeper than vendor or supplier: He connects the Anacortes co-op to other co-ops and local suppliers.

Rachel’s Cool Beans Cafe, an independent business within the store, is another example of a win-win business relationship. Muntean calls it a marvelous gift and says it is the only solely vegetarian restaurant in Anacortes.

Muntean emphasizes “I feel very strongly that a dollar spent here supports the community unlike a dollar spent anywhere else.” The store she co-founded is living proof of that value, and shows the return on her investment.