BETHLEHEM, Pa.- The Bethlehem Co-op Market still isn’t ready to put an official opening date on the calendar for its brick-and-mortar grocery store, but it is celebrating reaching a fundraising milestone.
The co-op has passed the $600,000 threshold it set for itself to proceed with the next phase of work at 250 E. Broad St.
That means refrigeration work is now underway, the co-op wrote, in its March 1 newsletter: “Estimates to complete this phase of work are anywhere between 3-6 weeks. As it continues, our timeline to open will become clearer, so expect the announcement of an opening plan very soon.”
The $600,000 is part of a larger $1.6 million fundraising goal the co-op has set to open the store and keep it running through its first year.
Beyond completing the refrigeration work, there are several other items on the to-do list: final inspections and securing the certificate of occupancy; installing the point-of-sale system; ordering and stocking inventory; and hiring and training staff, including a general manager.
The co-op also noted in its newsletter that it is exploring debt restructuring: “Successful debt restructuring will help to fortify our opening timeline and safeguard financial stability against potential fundraising shortfalls. This is also a critical piece in confirming an opening date.”
Ryan Kneller
Plans for the grocery store were first announced in 2021. Several planned opening days came and went over the years. Recently, the co-op said it would not announce another projected opening date until it’s completely certain it can honor that date.
Founded in 2011, the 1,700+ member Bethlehem Co-op has received at least $3 million in taxpayer dollars to support the new store. It was awarded a $2.9 million federal reimbursement grant in 2021, and a $100,000 state grant in 2022.
Once the grocery store is open, anyone can shop there, and not just co-op members. A lifetime membership costs $300.