The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Ypsilanti Food Co-Op more than just a supermarket
By Christine Laughren
PUBLISHED: May 8, 2008
It's different than going to the supermarket. It's a community place. You see your neighbors there. It's close to home. It's the Ypsilanti Food Co-op.
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For more than 40 years the Ypsilanti Food Cooperative has been a staple of the area and what originally started out as a food-buying club in the late '60s is now a successful venture owned and operated by community members.
On any given day you can walk into the co-op and find almost everything you need tucked away in nooks and crannies in the small space on North River Street.
The co-op sells natural and organic dairy, grab-and-go deli products, produce, bulk, health and body care as well as general merchandise and groceries.
Additionally, in recent years the co-op purchased the bakery next door and the big brick oven that came with it.
Corinne Sikorski, manager of the co-op, said the store now offers freshly baked bread, granola, pastries and much more everyday.
Sikorski, who has been involved with the co-op since 1975, said membership at the co-op has increased by more than 25 percent every year for the past few years.
She said people are more health conscious about what they buy than in the past. And since the co-op offers all-natural and organic products she said customers don't have to worry about the goods they buy.
"The consumers are becoming more educated and aware of what they buy," Sikorski said.
The co-op veteran also said she thinks the recent "buy local" initiatives in communities across the nation, including Ypsilanti, has also driven up membership.
"Buy local is something that we've always done," Sikorski said of the co-op, which gets almost all its goods from local vendors.
The food co-op has had several homes since its creation, including a place on Perrin right down the street from where Jimmy Johns is now.
It was moved to the River Street location in 1984 and has been there ever since.
Although the space is a little small Sikorski said she likes being close to Depot Town. She said if the cooperative ever expanded it would not abandon River Street, but open an additional location in the area.
The co-op has also seen some major re-organization in the past couple years.
With the purchase of the bakery and new available office space in another section of the building the store was able to expand and even found some space to sell Michigan beers and wine.
"We have wanted to carry beer and wine for years but we never had the space for it," Sikorski said.
Although Sikorski still has to go to the supermarket for a select few items she said she prefers shopping at the co-op.
Sikorski said ultimately the co-op offers more than just food to those who shop there. She said she is happy to live in the neighborhood and work for a place that gives back to the community by buying and hiring local.
"There's a world of interest in people supporting their local businesses," Sikorski said. "And people have rediscovered us as a local business that supports the community."
ABOUT THE YPSILANTI FOOD CO-OP
The cooperative is a business voluntarily owned by the people who use it.
It is operated for the benefit of its members. You do not have to be a member to shop at the co-op.
Membership: After the initial $10 membership fee, $20 is due each year to the co-op for each year's fair share contribution.
The total fair share amount is $200. During the period of contribution the member receives a 2% discount on non-sale items. After the $200 accumulation, the discount is 4%.
The entire fair share amount may be paid in advance. If a member decides to leave the co-op, the fair share balance is refunded
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