BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Bethlehem’s incoming “community-owned, everyone's-welcome” grocery store at 250 E. Broad St. will feature a new moniker when it opens next year.
Co-op officials back in October announced plans to rename the new store Bethlehem Co-Op Market, following “much fanfare” from members and much discussion leading to the decision, co-op General Manager Eric Shamis said.
“The rebrand will bring clarity. Even if someone is unsure about the meaning of a ‘food co-op,’ they will know a ‘market’ is a place to shop for food.”Bethlehem Food Co-Op General Manager Eric Shamis
“The rebrand will bring clarity,” Shamis said in an emailed statement. “Even if someone is unsure about the meaning of a 'food co-op,' they will know a ‘market’ is a place to shop for food.”
Team members, filling out store
Shamis said more progress reports are coming, as co-op officials also are gearing up to hire the group’s second-ever employee: its marketing coordinator.
“We are close to selecting a candidate with almost 80 people applying for the position,” Shamis said. “The marketing coordinator will lead the brand relaunch and move us into the next phase: Opening our store in 2024.”
The project’s next phase involves hiring a contractor to fill out the store space within a $1.7 million budget, according to its November request for proposal.
The co-op has extended its RFP deadline to Jan. 3.
Shamis said the co-op hopes to share its grand opening timeline “relatively soon.”
“While we are seeing significant progress on the building by the developer and construction company, there continue to be supply chain issues over which they — and we — have no control.”Bethlehem Food Co-Op General Manager Eric Shamis
“Our general contractor will dictate the final project timeline,” he said. “While we are seeing significant progress on the building by the developer and construction company, there continue to be supply chain issues over which they — and we — have no control.”
Finding funding
Bethlehem was approved for a $2.9 million grant from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development back in 2021 on behalf of the co-op. The money is slated for use to support the store’s initial establishment.
Shamis said while his team is “grateful” for that funding, it has taken longer than anticipated to come in.
In the meantime, co-op officials have pursued other funding avenues to help keep the project on track, including other lines of credit, bridge loans and equipment financing.
“These additional financial instruments were always part of our plan since the grant is a reimbursement grant,” Shamis said. “We need access to cash in order to make the purchases that will be reimbursed under the grant.”
“Our store will be open year-round to all shoppers, and will feature reasonably priced, healthy, nutritious, locally sourced products. Even now, we are also working to give back to our community — and support it — through educational, environmental and social justice initiatives.”Bethlehem Market website
The co-op has gotten its allotted $100,000 state grant to fund kitchen equipment purchases.
The co-op is more than 1,475 members strong, according to its website, with plans to offer those people and others access to fresh food in “a USDA-defined food desert with a high poverty rate,” one city official has said.
“Our store will be open year-round to all shoppers, and will feature reasonably priced, healthy, nutritious, locally sourced products,” the site reads.
“Even now, we are also working to give back to our community — and support it — through educational, environmental and social justice initiatives.”
The co-op will take up about 7,000 square feet of commercial space on the ground level of the four-story, mixed-use building on the city’s North Side.
The building also will feature 42 apartments across the remaining upper floors. “Market Flats” will offer one- and two-bedroom units.
