Thanks to huge support from our community, we have raised over $684 thousand dollars in community loans and donations!  We are so grateful to the Co-op member-owners and broader community members who have stepped forward to support the Buffalo Mountain Co-op historic move.  139 individuals and organizations have made their support known with donations and loans ranging from $25 to $60K!  Loans and donations averaged just under $5,000 – making our short fundraising timeline possible.  Over 20 volunteers have supported this campaign, and countless more have expressed interest in helping with the move itself.  It truly takes a village, and the Co-op is grateful for the support of each and every one of you who’ve made this move possible.  Thank you so much.  We look forward to paying lenders back, and recognizing the community support at our Grand Opening (stay tuned!)

The Co-op purchased the Hardwick Village Market on March 15, 2022 and is currently operating both stores – which is no small feat!  Learning a whole new store and creating new systems in the midst of renovations takes stamina, humor, and fortitude.  Please be patient and understanding during this learning and renovation phase.  Staff are working hard to deliver the food and products you want and keep everything running.  So far it’s going smoothly, but not without a few bumps in the road of course!  Supply-chain issues are, after-all, a real thing this year.  Thanks for your kindness and patience during this process – and please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or suggestions.  There’s a lot to look forward to, and we look forward to getting through the growing pains in short order!

So what’s to come, you may wonder.  Renovations include: replacing coolers, updating shelving and layout, improving fire safety by installing new stairs and egresses from the basement, constructing the new bakery area in the back of the store with windows overlooking the river, repainting and updating signage, improving staff work areas, and replacing the floors.  Moving the Co-op’s Main Street inventory over to the new storefront will hopefully happen in May, and we will soon be asking for volunteers to help on Move Day!  Renovations that will happen after Move Day will include installing a first-floor bathroom, automatic sliding entrance doors with a vestibule, new roof, paved parking area, and more!  The community loans and donations are paying for all this renovation work – by hiring local contractors, used and more efficient equipment, and paying for construction supplies during this volatile market!

Bottom line – the Co-op is in an excellent position to make this move and grow as a community resource for local, organic, and conventional, affordable food for everyone because of the tremendous support of our community.  With this move, we can become Hardwick’s Market of Choice – and we aim to offer everyone the food and opportunities that make our community strong.  We welcome new member-owners, we welcome all shoppers, and we welcome you to celebrate this move with us!