The Community Co-op in Tallahassee (The FAMUAN/Jahnez Chung)
For nearly a decade, Tallahassee residents have turned to Community Co-op for locally sourced groceries, baked goods and products from nearby farmers and businesses.
But loyal customers may not be enough as the Co-op faces serious financial struggles.
According to the company’s facebook page, the Co-op needs roughly $120,000 a week in sales to remain sustainable but typically brings in $100,000 to $110,000 a week, leaving it at a net deficit.
The financial challenges include debt from the COVID-19 pandemic and issues with the current building.
Despite those struggles, the Co-op has not made a decision to close.
Dr. Camille Lewis, a board director, said there has not been a vote to close the store. She said sales and customer spending have increased over recent weeks.
During the week the Co-op’s public call for support went out; sales were nearly 46% higher than the same week last year. The Co-op also saw 21% more transactions, while the average purchase was about 20% larger, according to figures provided by the Co-op.
“The community truly showed up,” the Co-op said in a press release. “People weren’t just sharing the message. They were coming through the doors and shopping.”
Lewis said the increase in sales gives the board more time to figure out how to keep the store running, pay down debt, maintain the store and continue supporting local farmers and producers.
“We are facing some serious financial struggles,” Lewis said. “We’re over a million dollars in debt for various reasons. COVID was a big part of that.”
Miranda Groves, 45, has been a loyal shopper since the pandemic in 2021. Groves said she shops exclusively at the Co-op because the produce is fresher.
“The produce is just fresher here, and I don’t know what I would do if it closed down,” Groves said.
Groves also said she prefers the Co-op because she feels more comfortable knowing where its products come from.
“I’m scared to buy meat from these big corporations because God knows what they’re putting in it,” Groves said.
Chris Morris, manager of Community Co-op, said the biggest way the community can help is by shopping more often.
“Our sales have been growing, our foot traffic’s been growing, our basket size has been growing, our membership count has been growing,” Morris said. “We just need to accelerate that growth a little bit.”
Morris encouraged customers to spend more of their grocery budget at the Co-op and encouraged nonmembers to become members. Membership gives customers a role as member-owners, including voting for board directors and certain member decisions.
Morris said the Co-op works with more than 100 local vendors, and carries many products that could otherwise only be found at farmers markets
“The dollars spent there stay with those local vendors and circulate in the local economy,” Morris said.
Morris also said customers have a say on what products are available at the store.
“It’s your grocery store, so we work with you to put things on the shelves or to special order items,” Morris said. “You don’t get that level of service from the large chains.”
Lewis said the community can help by shopping, becoming members, sharing information and encouraging people who are unfamiliar with the Co-op to visit.
Lewis said many Tallahassee residents still do not know the Co-op exists or understands the cooperative grocery model.
Lewis said the Co-op is important for providing access to locally grown products and supporting local growers and producers.
“This is not my co-op. It is our co-op,” Lewis said. “We are from the community. We are for the community.”
As the Co-op continues to work through its financial struggles, Lewis said members and customers should continue supporting the store and the people who work there.
“It’s your co-op, so keep making it what you want it to be,” Lewis said.