BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Bethlehem City Council and the administration discussed the Bethlehem Co-op Market grocery store Tuesday night.

Sparked by public comment expressing frustration with its delayed opening, the group posted the following on its Facebook page: “Since so many of you (rightly!) asked – we are working to get a contractor finalized to connect the refrigeration equipment to the condenser on the roof (from the ground floor to atop the fourth). Once that is confirmed and work begins (which is complicated and expensive work), we can get a better estimate on our opening date. No one wants to get open more than we do!”

The full-service brick-and-mortar grocery store at 250 E. Broad St. was first announced in 2021. Ground was broken at the site the following year. But officials say the project has had to contend with several challenges since then, including funding complexities tied to a $2.9 million federal grant and rising construction costs, which have delayed the planned opening again and again.

Tuesday, Reynolds expressed his angst over the delays but pointed out that the co-op is very close to being ready to open.

The co-op’s board provided an update on the project during its regular meeting on Monday night, which was open to the public.

“I would be lying to you if I said there weren’t moments of frustration that I think that they haven’t necessarily shared with all the members and all the community to the extent that there could be some very legitimate reasons why that project may have slowed down,” Reynolds said.

At the co-op’s board meeting on Monday night, board Chair Domenic Breininger acknowledged it’s possible the market won’t open this year, since the store can’t apply for its certificate of occupancy until the refrigeration hookup work is done, which could take about four weeks.

Founded in 2011, the Bethlehem Co-op now has 1,731 members, which the group refers to as member-owners. The city, Reynolds said, can only provide guidance — some of which they take, and some of which they don’t.

“We are hopeful that they will come forward with a plan in the near future to be able to announce a start date, which we don’t think is that far away, that will allow them to open the doors and continue the confidence that everybody has built over the last 15 years in being part of that project,” Reynolds said.

Once construction is complete, the grocery store will be open to all shoppers, not just members of the co-op.