Fun Facts from Fifty-ish Years Ago

by Pat Ellis

Join us as we take a look back at some of the Co-op’s early years as documented in the Coop Scoop’s archives. 

1976

January: The  CO-OP is born as a pre-order buying club working out of Gary and Sharon Goldberg’s basement.  There are approximately 20 members.

August: At a  General Membership Meeting, by a vote of 21-14 the members agree to begin converting from a buying club to opening a store front. 

September: The first issue of the Newsletter  is published.

October: Newsletter Naming Contest is announced with  First and Second prizes being 5# and 10#’s of soybeans (seriously there is a prize but it is a secret) 

The Classified section of the Newsletter advertises a water bed with a raised frame that the owner is willing to trade for a juicer.

1977:

March: The new store front opens on Quail Street. First week sales are  $371. Current membership is 130.

The initially stocked items are most of the “basics for down to earth eatin’” and included a wide range of pure and unprocessed foods such as grains, flours & berries, beans for baking and sprouting, and selections of nuts and dried fruits. 

“The store is actually much more than reasonably priced healthy food.  It is a feeling!  To walk into the store knowing you are a part of it adds a whole new perspective to the purpose and meaning of a market place.  We can now buy our food in the same ordinal, peaceful atmosphere we enjoy cooking and eating in” 

May: CO-OP adopts an official food policy which is dedicated to providing the highest quality food at the lowest possible prices—carrying natural, whole, and pure foods. 

September: Membership tops 300. 

October: Gary Goldberg accepts the new position of  part-time manager responsible for training Supervisors and coordinating store activities.  

December: Year ends with total sales of $36,698.28 and operating expenses of $35,504.55 

1978

February: The annual insurance cost for the store is $241.

June: CO-OP is authorized to sell butter and Häagen-Dazs ice cream. 

August: General Membership votes to extend the CO-OP into adjoining space. Much of the required work is done by Member-Owners. 

September: The Nutritional Task Group from HWFC begins a series of public lectures. They are titled “Raise your Nutritional Awareness” and are intended to inform the public of the links between deterioration of health and increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods. 

1979

May: A customer licks a peanut butter spoon in front of the health inspector.  

June: 70% of store profits come from non-member sales.

1980

October: An entire issue of the Coop Scoop vanishes!  It had been typed and was ready for art work. It disappeared and remains a mystery to this day.

December: Overhearing a conversation between some CO-OP members regarding the cost of materials required to build an access ramp into the Quail Street building, a stranger, who remains anonymous, reaches into his pocket and donates the required money. 

1981

November: There are 250 Member-Owners at the store, an increase of 66 over previous year.

1982

May: HWFC begins to carry whole milk in deposit/return glass Bottles.

Olives are added to products that can be found at the store.

June:  CO-OP is looking for a member owner to serve as Tenant Liaisons now that the purchase of the 112 Quail Street Building is completed. 

1983

January: First CO-OP baking contest is held to create awareness of how delicious and nutritious natural food baking can be. First prizes are awarded to: Debbie Schramek (cake); Laura Hagen (cookies); Donna Shannon (pie); Louise Stoney (bread).

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