TRURO - The future of the Colchester Co-op will be decided tonight.
The grocery store is in need of an immediate infusion of about $500,000, and unless someone presents a new proposal at tonight's membership meeting, it looks like the doors will be closing in a little more than a month's time.
"A lot of members are disheartened that it's most likely going to have to close," said board member Stephen Nielson. But "we haven't found any other avenues to maybe save the store."
News of the financial situation at the co-op, which has been a part of the town for 53 years, became public earlier this month.
The board will make a presentation tonight outlining the situation and bring forward a resolution to dissolve the co-operative. If that is approved, a liquidator would be appointed and the process of selling the assets would begin.
If the members vote to dissolve the co-operative, Nielson expected the store would close in mid to late January.
There are about 3,500 members but organizers are hopeful at least 100 or 200 of them turn out to decide the co-op's future.
There are 27 people employed (20 part-time and seven full-time) at the co-op.
The Truro Feed Mill and Co-op Fuels home heating business
will not be impacted by tonight's decision.
The meeting will be held at the Truro Holiday Inn on Prince Street at 7 p.m.
jmalloy@trurodaily.com
Fate of Co-op store on the line tonight
- Published on December 17th, 2009
- Published on Febuary 25th, 2010
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Jason Malloy
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Comments
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- Gilliad
- - March 1st, 2010 at 14:40:10
I purchased a membership a couple of years ago and honestly tried to shop at the Co-op.
Unfortunately - and I do understand why - the narrow selection of products and a price spread between Co-op and the other guys that was, on occasion, quite wide forced me to go back to you-know-who.
I don't particularly like shopping there, either, what with having to battle my way through cart- and display-blocked aisles while junior selects his/her favourite sugar coated confection in the cereal section. However, I've learned to go early in the morning, just shortly after the usually friendly staff open the doors and before some rude clod has yelled at them for not having some obscure brand of mush. I'm in and out in no time at all - with officially condoned bags full to the brim with goodies that cost me much less than they would have at the Co-op.
The times, they are a-changing - and not all (or really very little) for the good.
Now, it will be interesting to see what discount chain will open a store there, filled with Chinese-made junk that breaks down before you even get a chance to leave the parking lot.
Another Walmart, anyone? -
- David
- - March 1st, 2010 at 14:40:07
It is time for the Co-Op to close. It is now passed its prime. Management years past are to blame. The Co-Op was a toxic work place Employees were treated terrible,and remember that all the good employees that have passed through their doors were the one's who made the Co-Op work.
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- Nicole
- - March 1st, 2010 at 14:40:03
My Boyfriend and I usually go to the city every weekend, we do most of our shopping and entertainment there, we even do some grocery shopping (Pete's has a wide variety of stuff you cannot get here). I feel bad taking my business out of the local area, but if you want to shop there is not alot of choice, and entertainment is limited to a few shows a year. Yes I know we have the marigold, but most of the acts are music (I prefer Theater), and we only have a few live theater acts a year. Our mall is half empty, the down town is over priced, and if you want to eat out truro offers nothing of ethnic foods, you are stuck with pizza, Chinese or bar foods. This town needs new business's and less of the same repetitive stores over and over (14 tim hortons I think I counted, 3 fair trades, 3 mcdonalds....on and on.) With the closing of Wacky's we no longer have an electroics store.
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- Concerned
- - March 1st, 2010 at 14:40:00
So sad to see another Grocery Store in Truro going. That's how many in the last 25- 30 years. Snook's Save Easy, Ryan's IGA, Moore's IGA, Dominion. It leaves Super Store and Sobey's. Makes a person wonder how so many store's in a few short years could be gone? At one time these were anchor stores for Truro. Truro is going behind in growth and development......compared to our neighbors of New Glasgow & Halifax.
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- Sam
- - March 1st, 2010 at 14:39:54
What we're seeing here is a trend in the North Amercian marketplace of the elimination of the small / independent retailer. Many would say the type of business model the Co-Op is operating by is dated and is simply doomed to failure due to the evolution of retailing .
IF the Co-Op is to survive it needs to radcially change the way it operates. Some of these changes, in all honesty, may not even be feasible. Perhaps the time has come to give up on this form of retailing.
It would appear that trying to save this store using this business model simply is not logical. At one time it might have been, however, the need to change has been ignored for too long. This now means the change required it too drastic and too expensive to be viable.
While the loss of the Co-Op would truly be sad perhaps it's the best thing to do when viewed long-term. It would seem the writing has been on the wall for some time - will someone finally read it now? -
- George
- - March 1st, 2010 at 14:39:51
The Co-Op deserves a chance to thrive. They have been part of this community for over 50 years.
Our current NDP government has as one of their mandates to help and support Atlantic Canadian owned businesses. Why are they not stepping in like they promised before they were elected???
You know..they want to build a 50 million dollar (before cost overruns) civic center that most of the town does not support. Only 1% of that lofty figure would save the Co-Op and its 27 employees. Seem like a fair trade off for the town. -
- Shopper
- - March 1st, 2010 at 14:39:37
I only ever went there to shop once, the staff were so rude I never returned.
Staff were so rude about me not being a member I never felt the desire to become one.
I am however a member of the Milford Co-Op. -
- Fact
- - March 1st, 2010 at 14:39:37
The thing that goes against Truro now, is the very thign that helped promote it's growth for so many years... It's geographical location. It is too close to major hubs like Halifax and Moncton. With our modern highways and faster cars today, it is nothing to nip down to Halifax for an afternoons shopping.
This is where the big malls are, all the BIG, big box stores are also there not to mention the array of restaurants.
