I just moved from NW after 13 yrs, and it was excellent having a local grocery store. I'm now in Milwaukie downtown, and I have to get in my car and drive 2 miles to the nearest real grocery store. I don't consider New Seasons in NW as a local grocery store, as most residents in far NW can't actually walk there and carry grocery bags back. I'd love to see the old Food Front be reborn as a grocery store.
As much as, like many others, I’d like to have seen Market of Choice come in, I’m pleased that Mark New stayed the course and will redevelop the property. Hopefully the result will be a nice addition to the neighborhood.
I love the idea of a produce market plus perhaps something like Wellspent. It might be fun to have a marketplace atmosphere with a variety of shops: Mama Hapas, Wellspent, and others like them
I'm ok with this development because I belive New has good intentions, but the sale of the property still should have been put forth for an ownership vote on principle. We all know the memeber list was tampered with, and therefore true legal vote impossible, but Fulton had an opportunity to demonstrate continued upholding of a democratally run co-op which this sale sans owner input now nullifies.
We are so glad you are supportive of Mark New's offer. He is invested in the community and desires of the membership, even going so far as to include a community committee as a part of his rebuilding process. As you know, the process of selling Food Front took far far too long and put the Co-op in a position where any delays in a sale would result - unfortunately and inevitably - in foreclosure of the building. Based on feedback from members since this announcement, losing the building was against everyones wishes. If we had the luxury of time and continued financing we would have moved to an additional vote for confirmation, without a doubt. From the previous vote, the first choice, Market of Choice, was unable to complete the sale so we moved quickly to the alternative option. Mark is removing the Co-op from an incredibly precarious position, putting forth time, money and resources to ensure that foreclosure or default on bills does not occur and that future developments of the space are aligned with the members' hopes. I totally understand your view and running formal votes on all viable options is the best way to run a democracy. However, we had to move quickly to keep the building. Please feel free to call or email me any time. I always appreciate your input and am glad to have you as a member. Warmly, Kate Fulton
Thank you Sue & Kate. I do understand and I’m very excited for the next evolution of the FFC property and have faith it will again be a community hub and gem in our NW neighborhood under New’s direction.
I miss the old Food Front mightily…I’d go far as to say I miss the check out guys who never smiled or said hello. Bring it back as well as the wonderful array of meat products…those baby back ribs in cryovac….miss those too !
Another market with a product line similar to Food Front's would be doomed to failure at that location.
In 1972, Food Front opened. It had no competition for healthy food products in NW.
Since then Whole Foods opened in 2002,
Safeway on Lovejoy opened in 2008,
World Foods opened in 2014 and
World Foods on NW 9th opened in 2015.
Cash and Carry (Chef's Store) moved from NW 14th to NW Thurman in 2014 bringing it closer to Food Front.
Besides now having many competitors, the Food Front location is too geographically isolated and it has too little parking to be a successful food market.
I just moved from NW after 13 yrs, and it was excellent having a local grocery store. I'm now in Milwaukie downtown, and I have to get in my car and drive 2 miles to the nearest real grocery store. I don't consider New Seasons in NW as a local grocery store, as most residents in far NW can't actually walk there and carry grocery bags back. I'd love to see the old Food Front be reborn as a grocery store.
As much as, like many others, I’d like to have seen Market of Choice come in, I’m pleased that Mark New stayed the course and will redevelop the property. Hopefully the result will be a nice addition to the neighborhood.
I’d love to see a produce market with a few local specialty products like this one:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/9rTKphAktch4g9kv7?g_st=ipc
I love the idea of a produce market plus perhaps something like Wellspent. It might be fun to have a marketplace atmosphere with a variety of shops: Mama Hapas, Wellspent, and others like them
I'm ok with this development because I belive New has good intentions, but the sale of the property still should have been put forth for an ownership vote on principle. We all know the memeber list was tampered with, and therefore true legal vote impossible, but Fulton had an opportunity to demonstrate continued upholding of a democratally run co-op which this sale sans owner input now nullifies.
Autumn, I am replying on Kate's behalf.
We are so glad you are supportive of Mark New's offer. He is invested in the community and desires of the membership, even going so far as to include a community committee as a part of his rebuilding process. As you know, the process of selling Food Front took far far too long and put the Co-op in a position where any delays in a sale would result - unfortunately and inevitably - in foreclosure of the building. Based on feedback from members since this announcement, losing the building was against everyones wishes. If we had the luxury of time and continued financing we would have moved to an additional vote for confirmation, without a doubt. From the previous vote, the first choice, Market of Choice, was unable to complete the sale so we moved quickly to the alternative option. Mark is removing the Co-op from an incredibly precarious position, putting forth time, money and resources to ensure that foreclosure or default on bills does not occur and that future developments of the space are aligned with the members' hopes. I totally understand your view and running formal votes on all viable options is the best way to run a democracy. However, we had to move quickly to keep the building. Please feel free to call or email me any time. I always appreciate your input and am glad to have you as a member. Warmly, Kate Fulton
Thank you Sue & Kate. I do understand and I’m very excited for the next evolution of the FFC property and have faith it will again be a community hub and gem in our NW neighborhood under New’s direction.
I miss the old Food Front mightily…I’d go far as to say I miss the check out guys who never smiled or said hello. Bring it back as well as the wonderful array of meat products…those baby back ribs in cryovac….miss those too !
Another market with a product line similar to Food Front's would be doomed to failure at that location.
In 1972, Food Front opened. It had no competition for healthy food products in NW.
Since then Whole Foods opened in 2002,
Safeway on Lovejoy opened in 2008,
World Foods opened in 2014 and
World Foods on NW 9th opened in 2015.
Cash and Carry (Chef's Store) moved from NW 14th to NW Thurman in 2014 bringing it closer to Food Front.
Besides now having many competitors, the Food Front location is too geographically isolated and it has too little parking to be a successful food market.