July 18, 2001
Page A5
ïb e ÿtarilauô (ßbseruer
Co-op Grocery Opens on Northeast Alberta
L t± PERLMAN
lH £ PORTLAND OBSERVER
Inner-Northeast Portlanders have
a new place for groceries.
The Alberta Co-operative Grocery
recently opened its doors at 1500N.E.
Alberta St. The store serves custom­
ers from 10 a m. to 8 p.m., Monday
through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m.
on Sundays.
A grand opening with free food
tastings and entertainment is set for
July 28.
The co-op grew out o f a commu­
nity survey conducted by the Sabin
Community Development Corp, in
1996. Asked what services the neigh­
treasurer and spokesperson Bill Boyd
says.
The group began with a “buyer’s
club,” buying items in bulk at whole­
sale prices to save money, in 1999.
They learned the ins and outs o f
operating a store from other co-ops
and from Portland State University’s
Business Outreach Program, whereby
students advise businesses on sales
and marketing practices. Die Port­
land Development Commission pro­
vided about 35 percent o f their
$ 135,000 startup costs, the rest com­
ing from their 230 members.
The store offers many - though not
all - o f the features o f a full-service
- half the size o f the old N ature’s
Fremont store, before the company
moved out in search o f more space -
precludes stocking everything you’d
find in a conventional grocery.
Many products are precluded by
Steinfeld’s Pickles. Nor does it pro­
vide meat, fish or poultry.
However, they do stock bananas.
“I know they’re organic, but clearly
they’re not local and I can’t be sure
they meet fair labor practices,” Boyd
our values. If people want Coke or
Kellogg’s cereals, they don’t need
another outlet for that. W ecan’t be all
things to all people.”
One thing the grocery will offer is
a chance to get involved in the store
beyond merely shopping there. For
$36 a year you can join the co-op,
which gives you both a five percent
discount on purchases and a vote on
policies. If you volunteer at least five
hours o f work a month, the discount
could be as high as 15 percent. They
also honor discounts for members of
rnun
79
other cooperatives. All their current
members live within a mile o f the
store, Boyd says. The store also de­
votes some o f its precious space to a
bulletin board, a play area for children
and easy chairs for adults.
“We want to be more than a place
to load up the goods,” Boyd says.
“Not everyone will appreciate what
we do, but w e’ve heard an incredible
amount o f excitement about this in
the community. For months people
have been asking us, ‘when are you
going to open up?” ’
The weekend is
what you make o f it.
P hotos by M ark W ashington /T he P ortland O bserver
A weekend escape is closer than you think. In fact you'll find it at the
A wide variety o f fresh produce, featuringorganically grown varieties, are
featured in the new Alberta co-op.
Bill Boyd of the Alberta Cooperative Grocery welcomes a customer to the
new store at Northeast 15th and Alberta.
Seattle and Tacoma, you can unwind in the garden courtyard with a
borhood did not have and could use,
98 percent ofparticipants mentioned
a grocery store. Based on this, a group
o f 25 interested neighbors held a
meeting in April 1997 to consider start­
ing such an enterprise. “There was so
much energy and enthusiasm,” board
the store’s values: a preference for
local companies, and ones that have
environmentally sound and fair labor
operations. Because o f the last con­
sideration, the co-op is honoring a
national boycott against Pictsweet
O n io n s, and d o e s n o t sto c k
grocery store, including a produce
section, whole grains, dairy prod­
ucts, canned goods, coffees and teas,
herbai remedies, home and health care
products and pet supplies.
There are some limitations. In part,
the storefront ’ s 2,900 square foot size
heated pool, melt away stress in the sauna, and even savor fresh
admits. “I don’t think w e’ll ever have
perfect standards.”
Store representatives are aware
that organic products do tend to cost
more, and that "price is a huge barrier
to people.” Still, Boyd says,” For
some things, w e’re holding true to
New Vision Outlined For Lloyd District
revised vision is taking
ment over the next 10 years.
shape for the develop
The new vision, led by a 16-
ment ofPortland’s Lloyd
member Steering Committee and the
District. The Portland Development
community, includes new urban hous­
C om m ission approved a strategy
ing, thriving specialty shops and a
that will help guide developm ent
variety o f different types o f office
efforts in the Lloyd D istrict and
space in attractive mixed-use devel­
identify public-sector capital im ­
opments. It also includes diverse
provem ents to support develop­
dining and entertainment options and
A
a robust tourist economy, as well as
pedestrian friendly walkways, tree-
lined streets, bikeways and transit, and
many parks and plazas.
More detailed strategies for increas­
ing housing and economic develop­
ment are being explored further in two
adjacent studies being conducted this
summer including, the Lloyd District
Kids to Visit Ghana, West Africa
A group o f nine kids and six adults,
from All the W orld Ministries and
Fellowship Church, will leave July 24
for two weeks in Ghana, West Africa.
The children will learn about their
heritage and the culture o f the G ha­
naian people. In turn, the African
children they meet will leant about
the culture o f the United States.
The group also plans to take
school supplies, toiletries, clothing
and toys to donate to their African
hosts. Most o f the children, lO to 15
years old, are from single parent
households. The ministry welcomes
contributions to offset the $2,000
cost for each person on the trip,
which includes tickets, hotel fees
and other expenses. Contributions
in checks or money orders can be
made in care o f Fellowship Church,
Trip to Ghana West Africa, 5131 N.E.
23rd Ave., Portland, OR. For more
information, call 503-249-0347.
Manage Your Business Reputation
T he P ublic R elations Society
o f A m erica at P ortland State U n i­
versity w ill be having a rep u ta­
tion m anagem ent co n ference for
public relations new com ers and
p ro fe ssio n a ls. P a rtic ip a n ts can
disco v er how to assess reputa-
tion and explore approaches to
building, preserving and restor­
ing reputation. K eynote speakers
w ill be G ail D undas, C om m unity
A ffairs M anager at Intel and Pat
M c C o rm ic k , p a r tn e r w ith in
C onkling Fiskum & M cCorm ick,
In c .
T he event is on W ednesday,
July 25, from 1 - 4 p.m . at P S U ’s
Sm ith C e n te r, C ascad e Room .
For reserv atio n s, call 503/725-
3536 or m ake your request by
em ail at D rssapsu@ vahoo.com .
luxurious Radisson Hotel Seattle A irport. Centrally located between
Housing Strategy and the Central
City Jobs Strategy.
seafood at N o rth by Northwest. Go ahead, make rt a weekend to
remember. Join Gold Rewards. Free Nights. Global Rewards.
SEATTLE
Radisson Hotel Seattle A irp o rt
17001 International Blvd.. Seattle, W A 98188
206-244-6000 • Fax 206-246-6835
www.radisson.com/seattlewa
I-8OO-333-3333 o r contact your travel professional
•B ased on availability. M ust mention this ad at time of reservation. Good through 12/30/01
A <
•/
Yes! ft's you r time! You couldn't
have dreamed it better if you d
tried. You've learned tha t hard
w ork and long hours definitely
pay o ff and tha t ge tting ahead is
easier w h e n there's family behind
you. That's the w ay it is w ith
American Family Mutual Insurance
Like you, w e understand it's
consistent performance that builds
strong reputations. That's ju s t one
o f m any reasons w h y year after
year weie awarded an A+ (Superior,
rating from the respected insurance
r a tin g a u t h o r it y A .M . Best.
have family behind you.
Before y o u make yo u r move,
m ake o n e call a n d a h e lp fu l,
friendly agent w ill be delighted to
tell you more. Then go o u t there
and conquer
th e w orld...
w e ll be right
behind you.
All Your Protection Under O ne Roof.
American Family Mutual Insurance Company and its Subsidiaries, Madison, Wl 53783-0001 wwwamfam.com