The Bethlehem Co-op Market will officially open in December, following years of delays.
In a news release, the market announced that it will officially open its doors Dec. 5 at its 250 E. Broad Street location.
“Reaching this milestone is the result of many years of commitment from so many people who believed in the idea of a community-owned grocery store in Bethlehem and helped bring it to life,” said Co-op board Chair Todd Mertz in a statement. “Now we get to welcome people into the store, fill it with activity, and begin doing what we’ve worked toward for so long.”
The Bethlehem Co-op Market initiative began in 2011. After years of development and volunteer work, it announced its location in 2019 and, in 2021, received a $2.9 million federal grant that would allow it to cover the cost of opening.
But three years after securing the funding, several obstacles got in the way, and forced the store to push back its expected opening several times.
The Co-op also faced criticism from some city activists and leaders, who questioned why the opening was taking so long.
A grocery co-op is a business model where anyone can buy a store “membership” and have an ownership stake in the store. Although anyone can shop there, not just members, a $300 one-time co-op membership grants discounts, voting rights on the store’s offerings, and equity if and when the store is profitable.
In advance of the official opening date, the Co-op will hold a series of “preview markets” where visitors can shop a limited selection of local vendors and tour the store’s space.
Preview markets will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 1, 15, 29 and Nov. 12, and from 9 a.m. to noon every Saturday from Oct. 3-Nov. 14, according to a news release.
The preview markets will raise money for the co-op’s official opening.
Reporter Lindsay Weber can be reached at Liweber@mcall.com.