The New Space at the Co-op

After months of planning and a huge volunteer effort, a new retail space for the Co-op's core produce opened its doors within the Newmarket venue on Thursday 24th June.

Located immediately to the left on passing through the entrance, it brings all the Co-op's wholefood and household supplies into a single area for the first time.

All Co-op members were invited to a celebratory evening social on the night to mark both the opening and the Summer Solstice. It featured ceremony, music, a Co-op history display, and fabulous vegan, vegetarian and macrobiotic food.

What's changed - and what's changing

Further development of the Newmarket space followed a September 2009 members' discussion meeting where different visions for the layout of the whole Co-op venue were exchanged. Moving ahead from there, the pace of progress quickened in the Spring and steadily the new space took shape, with a big final push to get it ready on schedule.

Members are now seeing the results: more display space, improved lighting, a fresh layout and more bulk savings on offer, all of which combine to make Co-op shopping an even more pleasurable experience.

Rearrangement of space elsewhere the venue has also been part and parcel of the switch - the retail area is now adjoined by a pared down office space, with the main office moving upstairs along with a newly created meetings room. The main hall, which is also hired out for market events, has more space available after the removal of the Co-op's core produce, allowing for more seating in the café area. Further development of the lower level side room, also previously used for core produce, will soon make it available for other purposes. It is expected that the new configuration of the venue will make the main hall more flexible and attractive to rent out for other events.

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