CGIN

The Riverwest neighborhood of inner-city Milwaukee, a group of people held a general community meeting in the fall of 1998. The neighborhood had gradually been deteriorating. Organizers proposed starting a natural foods co-op as a way to help revitalize the area and to bring healthy food to their neighborhood. Those in attendance voiced strong support for a co-op. Inspired by this interest, eight organizers formed a steering committee. They began meeting once a week to develop plans for the co-op.

In the early stages, each committee member took on a specific task, such as researching locations, researching bylaws, recruiting members, finding distributors, and learning more about the role of a co-op board of directors. The committee began holding festive community fund-raisers during holidays. As word spread about the new co-op interest grew. But the challenges were many. In the words of Sarah Ditzenberger, a member of the co-op’s board of directors, “This community really wanted a co-op in the neighborhood. But it took a strong commitment from everyone to build something without a lot of money.” After two years of planning, the store was still not opened, so organizers formed a buying club to keep interested members connected and to give them access to natural foods.

The total cost to get the new co-op started was about $67,000 and due to some very fortunate circumstances, the co-op had to raise very little of it. A member purchased the building the co-op is located in for $50,000 and paid for the rent, utilities, and renovations needed to get the co-op started ($15,000). All appliances and labor were donated. The co-op had to raise only enough money to purchase its initial inventory — $2,000.

The store opened on November 3, 2001. At that point, the buying club was discontinued and all of its members automatically became members of the co-op store. Currently, Riverwest Co-op is run solely by member workers who volunteer their time — all members work at least four hours a month. At this point, the co-op has 150 members and is open only a limited number of hours each week.

RIVERWEST CO-OP – at a glance

• date of first co-op meeting : Fall 1998
• number of people initially organizing the co-op: 8-10
• date incorporated : November 2000
• size of store – projected : 1,175 square feet (total & retail)
• required member investment : $100 share with option to pay in monthly installments
• store opening date : November 3, 2001
• number of paid staff : none
• total sales : $600/week in the first month
• number of members : 150

Information compiled as of November 2001