Riverwest Co-op Grocery closes its cafe
Store is open but in peril if sales do not improve
The Riverwest Co-op Grocery closed the store’s cafe Monday “for the foreseeable future,” and the future of the grocery store itself is uncertain.
“Unfortunately, after looking hard at the numbers, the board of directors determined it was impossible to continue regular cafe service,” grocery coordinator Nick Baran said in Monday’s announcement.
The cafe opened 18 years ago, and the co-op grocery, a natural-foods store selling organic, local, vegan, vegetarian and fair trade products, opened 21 years ago at 733 E. Clarke St. Both have suffered loss of sales in the pandemic, according to the announcement.
“If grocery sales do not improve, the Riverwest Co-op, in operation since 2001, could be forced to close in the coming months,” according to the announcement.
The Co-op’s cafe was closed for most of 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic, and the grocery store’s sales have not rebounded to prepandemic levels.
“We are putting all of our focus and energy into operating the grocery store in order to secure the future of the coop,” Baran said. “We are currently seeking funding to bridge the gap between where we are today and where we need to be to keep the store open.”
Anyone can shop at the co-op, which is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Weekly specials are available to all; membership isn’t required. Shoppers who do become members receive a 5% discount on purchases.
The store’s weekday specials include 10% off produce on Mondays and 10% off El Rey products on Tuesdays.
According to the co-op’s website, pop-up meals, bakery, grab-and-go and other items are planned for the cafe space to keep it active.
“We want to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who supported the cafe over the years, especially in the last few months,” Baran said in the announcement.