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A New Vision for HWFCby Ed Jenner, General Manager The times are rapidly changing. The natural foods industry is mushrooming, large health food supermarkets are putting coops out of business across the country, local chain stores are carrying our products at lesser prices, and the vegetarian market is likely to double in the next five years. There has been much talk lately about the future of the Coop. Many have asked, "Where are we going? Where should we be going? How do we get there?" Many have seen a need for vision; as one wise author stated, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." In the last few months, I have been working with the Central Business Improvement District (BID), an organization committed to "making Central Avenue a better place to live, work and visit." (For more information on the BID, visit www.centralbid.com.) One of their strategies for enlivening Central Avenue is the creation of an Empire Stare Market. This market would be similar to the 37,000-square-foot Portland Public Market in Maine, which attracts 12,000 customers a week and has gross sales of $8 million a year-in a city half the size of Albany! (For more information on the Portland Public Market, visit www.portlandmarket.com.) In his book, Public Markets and Community Revitalization, Ted Spitzer concludes that: "Every public market is a unique development that needs to respond to local conditions and the particular goals of the sponsoring entity. At their best, public markets can fulfill a range of public goals, including revitalization of an urban area, support for the regions agricultural economy, the provision of needed goods and services to local residents, and the creation of a community center that attracts people from throughout the region as well as tourists." The Central Avenue BID recognizes that an Empire State Market in Albany could:
1. Create a magnet to bring regional residents
and tourists to Central Avenue The BID desires that no national chain stores be allowed in the Empire Market, but rather independent businesses, New England farmers, and ethnic food stores from Albany's own ethnic community. What's more, they recognize that the market would be successful only with Honest Weight Food Coop's involvement-in fact, it would be difficult to accomplish without us. The market would build off the Coop's existing base of customers and our experience as food retailers on Central Avenue. Best of all, our need for a larger space with adequate parking within the next few years would be fulfilled! This is quite an exciting opportunity, as it would give us the ability to become more anchored into the larger community, and participate in something greater than ourselves. We could impact the lives of the entire Capital District and beyond with our values and services, and yet still maintain the integrity of our mission. We could ward off a natural foods chain store from moving into the area, empower the local farmer and small business owner, educate the community about cooperative principles, begin to serve our immediate surrounding neighbors in greater capacity, and be strengthened fiscally in order to give back more to the community. Can you see it . . . ? |
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