Co-op Market Opens in Durham

The Durham Co-op Market, located at 1111 West Chapel Hill Street, celebrated its grand opening on Saturday, April 11, with music, food from local vendors, and plenty of free samples.

The market has been an idea in the works since 2008, according to general manager Leila Wolfrum. The concept behind co-op markets is that anyone can buy a share of the company and be a part of governing it by voting in elections, giving input on decisions, and overseeing the professional staff.

The co-op’s mantra, “Everyone Welcome,” is in big letters on the side of its building, which marketing manager Laura Pyatt says that the co-op will try to live out and represent in the Durham community.

“We really want to break the stereotype of co-ops just being kind of a hippie thing,” Pyatt said. “We focus on local and organic, but we want it to be available to anyone and everyone.”

Food for All

Anyone can shop at the co-op, even if he or she is not an owner. And that’s exactly what the staff wants to happen, according to general manager Leila Wolfrum.

“We want to make sure that we are accessible as possible to all income levels and that no one is left out of shopping here due to monetary reasons,” Wolfrum said.

In order to make the market as inclusive as possible, Wolfrum said that the co-op has implemented a program called Food for All, a program developed by several markets in the Northeast.

With Food for All, customers who apply for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits can become co-op members for a fee of $15 instead of the standard $100, Wolfrum said. Food for All participants will receive a 10 percent discount on all products except alcoholic beverages.

According to Wolfrum, the co-op is also waiting on EBT approval and will begin accepting EBT as soon as it is able to.

Co-op Staples is another measure that Wolfrum and Pyatt hope will encourage inclusivity, which they describe as an everyday low-pricing program open to all customers where nutritional basics — around 100 items across the store ­— are intentionally priced lower.

“The list is really focused on core shopping items, like grains and beans, but the idea is that you can take a shopping cart through the store and really meet the needs of your family for under $50 for a full cart,” Wolfrum said. “We’re pretty proud of both of those programs, and we just want to make sure that everyone who wants to shop here is able to do so.”

The co-op works with several dozen local vendors, including farmers, bakeries, and cheese producers, in order to support fellow local businesses as opposed to competing with them, said Wolfrum.

Hillside High School student Adallia Williams and her father, Antwan, shopped at the market’s grand opening on Saturday. Adaliah said that she appreciated the local aspect of the store.

“It’s different. It’s a lot more personal,” she said. “I told my dad that I would really like to come back in the future. I like the atmosphere; it’s cool to try new things and shop at new places like this.”

For more information on the co-op, visit durham.coop.

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