Co-op unveils building plans to members

It’s almost official—the Cook County Whole Foods Co-op will be moving to what was most recently the Alan Campbell restaurant (at the Grand Marais Inn, formerly Tomteboda Motel) owned by David Parsons while their current building is being expanded and refurbished.

The move will take place in late September after the busy summer season ends and plans call for a move back to the co-op’s current location in the spring of 2013 when the new building is finished.

The Alan Campbell restaurant/tourist information center is located one mile west of Grand Marais on Highway 61. It is currently used only as a visitor’s information center for tourists heading to northern Ontario.

While not as big as the current store, it should suffice for members’ needs through the winter, said Co-op General Manager Jennifer Stolz.

Currently the co-op is in the process of raising $600,000 in an owner loan program by August 31. So far more than $200,000 has been raised, said Stolz.

Projected cost to expand from its current 3,780 square feet to 6,100 square feet is $2.25 million. The co-op has $350,000 in cash reserves and will seek loans from local banks and the credit union, as well as a loan from North Country Cooperative Development Fund, which loans money to co-ops for expansion.

As the business has grown, the deficiencies in the current building have been magnified. It currently has 1,620 square feet of retail space on multiple levels, is not energy efficient and the roof leaks when it rains; plus the office space is small, cramped, and shared by many. The new store will offer 3,780 square feet of space for shoppers and 2,500 square feet for offices, coolers, and a prep area.

The new store will also be built with sustainability in mind, and Gold LEED standards will be sought, although not all of those standards will be affordable under the current budget. Plans also include a space to display pieces from the beloved mural created by local school children that will unfortunately have to be taken down when the new building takes form.