Delridge Grocery Co-op’s next chapter: ‘Winding down’ storefront but ‘new neighborhood business will take over’ the space

| Delridge | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

A shortage of help for the volunteer-run Delridge Grocery Co-op store has led to a change in plan for the longtime nonprofit, which has its roots – several generations of volunteer help ago – in an idea that sprouted in 2009. The DGC has announced that it will “end storefront operations by April 30” in the space at Cottage Grove Commons (5444 Delridge Way SW). But that space won’t be vacant – and will still be dedicated to affordable, healthy food. And the DGC isn’t entirely hanging up its collective apron. If you’re not on the DGC mailing list, you can read the full announcement here. In short, three years after DGC was finally able to start opening its storefront to the public, then steadily growing its inventory and opening hours to five days a week, the road grew bumpy, as explained in the announcement:

Unfortunately, over the course of the last year, the numbers of our board of directors and core volunteers has dwindled to a much smaller group, causing larger loads of work to be added to fewer shoulders. Additionally, we faced rising prices due to national inflation growth, changes in post-Covid shopping habits, and challenges in sourcing products from distributors — all of which contributed to declining sales.

During a board meeting in March, the Co-op’s core remaining group was faced with a dangerously diminishing cash reserve twinned with a declining level of time availability from the cohort. To ensure that all of our financial obligations are met (including paying back several member loans), it was decided that the Delridge Grocery Co-op would need to wind down its operations.

Starting this weekend, the DGC will work toward selling down our inventory at reduced prices with the goal of shutting down storefront operations by April 30.

But, we will also be making way for a new neighborhood business…

Scheduled to start on May 2, run by North Delridge neighbors – Cascadia Produce, run by the neighbors who brought you Carrot Man’s Carrot Stand (also owner-members of the Co-op) will be taking over the DGC space for a four-month experiment that will bring low-cost, fresh food to North Delridge.

Cascadia Produce has unique access to farm seconds and wholesale recovered produce (all vibrant and recently harvested) that will be offered to area residents at super low cost. Best of all, the space will be open daily for extended hours and stuffed with a wide variety of produce options (some of it even organic!). This pop-up will continue the goal of access to fresh, healthy food that the DGC has championed since inception and test a radical new model for fresh food access in urban food deserts.

The DGC is working out the final details with Cascadia Produce and will send them out soon, but we’re all estimating that this pilot produce pop-up will begin operating in May in the DGC storefront. May 2-3 will be a soft open for neighbors and area residents where all are invited to come see the changes and give feedback on what types of fruit, vegetables, healthy cooking staples, and treats (hey, life is short!) belong in in this market. If successful during the pop-up stage, the new model will be adopted long term.

We just talked to Jill from Cascadia by phone and there’s so much more to this than just a “pop-up” – she has big plans for ensuring that everybody in West Seattle knows how to get affordable produce – and plans to partner with a variety of organizations and groups. Shopping at the store will be convenient, at least eight hours a day seven days a week, with a longtime West Seattleite on board to be market manager. Stand by for lots more info about the plan.

In the short run, today through Sunday, the DGC is starting its inventory clearout with a 10 percent discount to all shoppers, co-op members or not, and some additional in-store discounts “including greeting cards, cleaning supplies, fancy cheeses, and more.” Meantime, DGC will continue its weekly Essentials Box program – including “gifted boxes to households in need” – during the Cascadia Produce pop-up time, so if you’re a subscriber, DGC hopes you’ll “stick with us during this time.” DGC has some other FAQ answers in its full announcement.

John April 5, 2024 (5:18 pm)

This is sad for the “food desert” concerns that powered this noble attempt.
I wonder if the burgeoning development along Delridge has changed the demographics?

In hindsight, with DGC’s collapse, I do question our donation of $15,000 for buildout, from a family philanthropic fund.

The DGC explanation is a bit confusing: if they can’t staff the store and make it work as a co-op, how can someone take it over, stock and staff it for profit?

I do wish the new owners success!

I followed the design by local architect and visited for the opening, but never traveled there from my neighborhood to shop.

I respect the group of dedicated compassionate members who poured a tremendous amount of their time, energy and money to make DGC happen.
I only wish the neighborhood steps up to support the next iteration of this facility.

Mcat April 5, 2024 (6:49 pm)

Really bummed about this. Loved their Essentials Box — high quality produce at a good price. Hope the box continues. Thanks to everyone who organized and volunteered their time to run.

Claudia Williams April 6, 2024 (7:24 am)

I’d love to support, but since the Delridge reconfiguration I avoid that corridor like the pest!

Bart April 7, 2024 (6:45 pm)

Cascadia is taking over the space, not the co-op. They are a well-established produce broker, owned by folks who live in the neighborhood, that is apparently entering the retail realm, having previously worked with restaurants and nonprofits.

crow April 11, 2024 (8:00 am)

What a bummer. I just moved here in November, and having a little grocery store within five minutes walk was so nice. The prices were a little high and the hours were weird, but I really did like the little store! Thank you to everyone who made it a possibility, and here’s hoping that the new shop is one that lasts!

Galena April 12, 2024 (10:46 am)

It’s sad to see this happen. Unfortunately, it was inevitable. I fought to have the coop sell REAL food, dry bulk foods like beans and flour and pasta, and produce like apples and potatoes, and eggs and milk, and A LOT of them, so that people in the neighborhood would have a regular reason to shop there for staples. Instead, the decision to move toward general grocery, including luxury cakes and other luxury foods without providing sufficient inducement to get people into the store to buy such impulse purchases, resulted in this failure. The space was never big enough for a grocery store – a produce stand and dry bulk would have been perfect for that space, would have actually succeeded. That store needed 1.5 million dollars to open, and no one listened to me. We could even have done it slower with less money if people had been willing to do the right thing. But relying on volunteer labor past the first nine months was never an adequate solution. I don’t want to be this kind of person, but I told them so. That’s part of why I left the coop. People wouldn’t listen to me. It’s honestly heartbreaking for me. I know most people don’t bare their souls publicly like this, but this is how I honestly feel.

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