Store Progress FAQ's
Updated Sept. 21, 2026
Has an opening date been set for the store? If not a definite date, what is your best estimate?
It's with great excitement that we announce our plans to open the doors to our full-service, community-owned market at 250 E. Broad St.
We will offer a phased opening, beginning with a series of Preview Market Days at which everyone can shop. These will feature opportunities to shop with some of our local vendors on Thursdays, and an option to purchase a curated box of locally-sourced goods on Saturdays.
The Thursday events will be held on Oct. 1, 15, 29 and Nov. 12 from 4-7 PM. The Saturday pick-up events will be offered on Oct. 3 – Nov. 14 from 9 AM – noon.
These events will lead up to an Opening Day event on Saturday, Dec. 5. We're currently making those plans to offer an expanded array of different products, with limited hours, as we gear up to a full complement of items and a full schedule.
What is left to accomplish before the store can open?
The construction of the store space is now complete, and the City has issued the Certificate of Occupancy.
The final steps include setting up our point-of-sale system (inventory and check-out), hiring and training of staff including our General Manager, and ordering and stocking inventory. All of these pieces are actively underway with strong support from our cooperative partners.
What happened to the $2.9 million federal grant? Has it all been spent?
The federal grant (awarded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development) was available to fund construction, infrastructure, equipment fit-out, operations and staffing costs, and was spent as required by the grant guidelines. The grant was a reimbursement grant; it was fully used and will soon be finalized. All grant reporting is current and compliant.
As part of routine grant finalization guidelines, we are in the process of contracting a third party for an audit of our federal grant. When that is completed, we will share the results.
What about other money you've received, like other grants and the $300 equity investment each member-owner paid?
Our grants have been used for construction, equipment, and pre-opening work in accordance with 
their specific requirements. For example, in November 2025 we successfully closed out a $100,000 Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development grant following a routine final audit confirming all funds were used appropriately.
Member-owner equity – the $300 paid per household—is part of how cooperative grocery stores are capitalized. The cash is used to support the project, but unlike regular revenue, it is recorded on our balance sheet as equity, representing each household's ownership stake in the co-op. This equity strengthens the co-op's financial foundation and provides the basis for future ownership benefits, such as patronage dividends when the store becomes profitable, as well as voting rights and member discounts.
Why are you raising more money? How much do you need?
Like many construction projects that began before and during the pandemic, the co-op faced rising costs and supply chain challenges. We also identified a remaining refrigeration connection requirement of roughly $200,000 that was not included in the original construction scope.
Thanks to strong community support, we have now reached the $600,000 milestone that allowed the Board to authorize the final construction phase, including refrigeration installation. That work is now underway and we move forward toward securing a Certificate of Occupancy and an experienced General Manager.
Fundraising will still continue to help ensure the store launches responsibly and has adequate stability during its first months of operation. In addition to continued community support, the co-op is actively working with lenders and partners on long-term financing and potential debt restructuring to strengthen the store's financial foundation.
How are you trying to raise the additional funds? What happens if you don't get it?
We're securing a mix of member-owner loans, community contributions, institutional partnerships, 
and collaborative support from other co-ops.
We're also coordinating with lenders and contractors to manage our debt and obligations as best we can while maintaining the capital we need to open the store and set the stage for first year success.
With the progress and partnerships now in place – including new institutional supporters – we are confident in our path to completion.
If additional funds were ever needed beyond what we are actively securing, the board would continue doing what it has done throughout this process – working with our partners to ensure the co-op moves forward in a way that protects member-owner interests and strengthens the community.
What about the money you solicited and received for the Art Mural project?
Donations designated for the mural remain restricted to that purpose. Restricted gifts are legally and ethically held for their intended use and are not used for general operating or construction needs.
Why are you paying for staff for a store that's not even open?
As with any grocery store, certain pre-opening roles are necessary to complete construction coordination, federal and state grant compliance, financial reporting, licensing, inventory planning, and operational setup.
Much of this work has been supported by volunteers and partner co-ops to keep costs lean. Our volunteer board works wherever possible to provide free labor and leadership. Cooperative partners have also offered temporary financial support for management hiring to ensure a strong opening.
How much has been paid for staff and rent on a store that's not open?
Rent and essential pre-opening staffing are part of every grocery store's startup process. These costs have been 
carefully managed as part of our primary $2.9M grant, regularly reported, supported by additional grants, partnerships, and member-owner investment. We continue to maintain strict financial oversight so that costs remain thoroughly aligned with a clear path to opening.
Why does Bethlehem need another grocery store?
Bethlehem needs a community-owned grocery store – one where profits stay local, supply chains are shorter, and sourcing prioritizes regional farms and producers. Unlike conventional grocers, food co-ops are structured to keep economic value circulating locally. Research from the National Co-op Grocers (NCG) shows that for every $1 spent at a food co-op, its impact is multiplied in local economic activity through purchasing, wages, and reinvestment in the community.
A co-op strengthens the resilience of the local food system, expands market access for small and mid-sized farms, and offers a place where the community has a real voice in how their grocery store operates. Co-ops are not a luxury – they are a key strategy for building sustainable, community-rooted food economies.
What will you do to make sure groceries are affordable? We don't need another high-priced store.
Affordability is central to our mission. The co-op will offer: 
- a quality line of budget-friendly staples,
- bulk foods where shoppers only pay for what they need,
- both organic and conventionally grown options,
- acceptance of SNAP, WIC, and other assistance programs.
Co-ops are built to serve their communities – not outside investors – so affordability and accessibility remain at the heart of our food model.