Behind the Scenes of Building The Co-op: Opening Summer 2023
Dorchester Food Co-op has spent years leading up to this moment: The 2023 opening of it’s physical location! Whether you’ve been with us from the start, or are just now jumping in, one thing that’s always been true is we are by and for the community. You’ve all made this dream a reality, so we wanted to give you a glimpse behind the scenes of making the 2023 Dorchester Food Co-op store opening a reality.
Sustainable from the Start
We knew before the blueprints were even drawn that sustainability was a key value for the Dorchester Food Co-op. We aim to be a dynamic center for healthy eating and sustainable living that reflects the unique strengths and cultures of Dorchester. With this goal in mind, we’ve been able to make some really exciting sustainable choices throughout the building process and beyond.
A couple of our favorite finds we think you’ll enjoy:
Refrigeration is often a source of ozone damage, and in our commitment to sustainability we’ve opted to go with ozone friendly refrigerators that use CO2, rather than more common alternatives that are more damaging to the environment. This was one area where we chose to actually spend on a more costly option, because it is aligned with the values of the co-op and is a more environmentally sustainable choice.
We sourced all of our main shelving units from a nearby Best Buy that was closing down and sold it to us for only $1000 total. We were originally quoted $37,000 to get new shelving built and installed, so that is a huge savings in addition to getting to save some practically new material from the landfill!
A tremendous savings was also found with our range hoods. Quoted as $33,000 apiece new, we ended up sourcing ours from Brown University, which was getting rid of some that were in perfectly good working order. They sold them to us for a fraction of the price, passing along the opportunity for us to reuse materials and save on costs again. We also sourced prep sinks and several display tables in a similar way.
One more thing we’re excited about is the vertical living wall that will be able to be rolled in and out of the space each day. It will have fresh vegetables and herbs growing on it for passersby to pick and enjoy (for free) as they walk by the store, or while they sit and relax in the outdoor seating area.
Sustainability is not just about recycling and reusing materials, but also about learning and teaching self-sufficiency and maintaining an ecological balance– through things like growing local food and teaching our community to enjoy it too!
Get involved
Become a member-owner or invite a friend to become a member-owner! Right now as final details are coming together and the store is gearing up for opening, it’s most important to tell everyone you know and help us get people inside and outside the neighborhood excited for the opening and showing support as member-owners. If you have any friends who may resonate with our sustainable, community and worker-owned grocery store that nourishes, employs, and reinvests in the local community, please invite them to join.