Free Range Food Co-op announces location

On Friday, May 3, Free Range Food Co-op held a celebration to announce their official location.

FRFC will be towards the corner of Fourth Street NW (Highway 2) and First Ave in downtown Grand Rapids.

The event was very well attended. Board Chair, Brandon Otway, commented, “I wouldn’t venture to guess, but a couple hundred passed through and we had a lot in attendance when we announced the location.”

FRFC is excited to have found a location that will be part of the downtown fabric of Grand Rapids. Otway said, “It’s a key piece to the downtown Grand Rapids revitalization master plan.” With the agreement to purchase, FRFC has 12 months to raise the money and gain capital. They plan on breaking ground next spring if they raise enough capital in time.

The City of Grand Rapids has been very supportive, cooperative, and great to work with, according to Otway.

Free Range Food Co-op officially incorporated in 2016. The average cooperative takes eight to ten years to open. Interest and progress has ebbed and flowed over the years but they have finally been able to cement a location where they plan on constructing a 6,000 square-foot-building, with 4,000 square-feet of retail space.

At a grocery cooperative, the people are the owners. After purchasing shares in the co-op, member-owners can participate in decision-making and share in the store’s profits. Each co-op offers unique benefits to their members. But everyone can shop at the co-op, whether you’re an owner or not.

The next step for FRFC is to go into their Community Investment Campaign where they will look to raise money needed for capital. Otway said this summer they plan on completing their silent phase, hosting more intimate events. They’ll begin with owners hosting events to engage with other owners to commit financially to the campaign.

Then, in the fall they will look for more public facing fundraising to raise the additional capital. FRFC is looking to raise $1.5-2 million from owners.

Compared to traditional supermarkets, co-ops give more money back to the local community and economy they serve. Grocery cooperatives often do business with local farmers and producers and stock up on specialty items that aren’t sometimes found in a conventional store.

Already working on design, Otway said that there will be opportunities for owners to engage and be a part of the design process for the building as well.

You can find Free Range Food Co-op on Facebook or Instagram or at their website: https://www.freerangefood.coop/