Wheatsville Co-Op Hits Growth Spurt
Everyone's favorite neighborhood grocer is about to go through some changes. The Wheatsville Co-Op on Guadalupe is looking to expand their modest store after being open for over twenty years. Members fret not, this one isn't going to be like Whole Foods' massive growth spurt--although it won't be far off. Their website offers plans and pictures for the upcoming expansion project. We'll save you some time and run down the basics for you:
- The current office building (dubbed "temporary" 25 years ago) will be torn down and all administrative offices for the store will be moved into the former InStep building just next door.
- The east side of the building will be extended roughly 5 feet outwards. The North side will be the largest section expanded, making room for a new kitchen and preparation areas.
- The paintings on the west side will be replaced with windows, allowing for great natural light and a stronger "street presence" looking out onto Guadalupe. The parking lot will also be re-paved-- likely to be the most stressful part of the renovation as parking will become even more limited.
- The entrance will be relocated from the south wall to the front corner. The patio area will be expanded and re-paved to allow for a better outdoor seating environment. After completion, the front area will have better bike racks and a "more convenient cart corral."
- In addition to the aforementioned, there will be plenty of behind-the-scenes work, allowing for less-stressful work environments for employees, hopefully resulting in a more pleasant shopping experience for all. Retaining walls, fence construction, stocking and receiving areas are on the top of the list.
We were assured that the construction will be done in a "timely" matter and an obscure timetable is set at "several months." They may have to close for "a small amount of time," but during most of the project the store will remain open and operating as usual. If you're not a member of Wheatsville Cooperative, you should get down to there quick and sign up for a membership. Just a thought, because you never know what happens to prices, incentives, and fees after a business grows like this.
Photo courtesy of Patricia Hadad.
