The Bethlehem Food Co-Op’s new grocery store is anchoring a new Broad St. development
“Opening a full-service grocery store in the neighborhood, especially on our north side, is vital to our city as we move forward, especially implementing Northside 2027,” Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez said in video remarks made during the presentation. “This is a perfect fit for the neighborhood, a perfect fit for the north side.”
05/06/2021
The Bethlehem Food Co-Op plans to open its member-owned grocery store in 2022 in a new Peron Development project on East Broad Street in the city.
Peron plans to raze the one-story structure at 250 E. Broad St. and build a four-story apartment building with the co-op’s full service grocery store as the first-floor tenant. Peron is partnering with Boyle Construction on the project.
The nonprofit revealed the address of its north Bethlehem downtown location to its member-owners via a Zoom celebration Friday evening that was to be followed with a public virtual announcement. The group recently announced it had signed a lease for its store, but has kept a tight lid on the actual location.
“Opening a full-service grocery store in the neighborhood, especially on our north side, is vital to our city as we move forward, especially implementing Northside 2027,” Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez said in video remarks made during the presentation. “This is a perfect fit for the neighborhood, a perfect fit for the north side.”
Initially founded in 2011, the co-op now has almost 800 member-owners. Food co-ops are grocery stores owned by members who get to shop at a discounted rate and take classes. Members pay a one-time fee of $300, and the co-op offers an installment plan. Anyone will be able to shop at the Bethlehem Food Co-op but they won’t share in the perks of membership.
The store will rely on local vendors to supply produce and products and feature bulk bins, a community kitchen and meeting room, a small outdoor dining area, a bike rack and off-street parking. The property currently includes a parking lot. There will be 23 dedicated parking spaces for shoppers in the large lot.
Peron and Boyle said in a statement that they are excited to partner with the Bethlehem Food Co-Op “to offer a unique space with incredible access, parking, and walkability for Bethlehem residents.”
“We saw this as a way of giving back to the Bethlehem community, a place that is convenient and fulfills the fresh grocery needs of downtown residents,” said Mike Perrucci of Peron “The residents living there will love having the co-op below them and the co-op will have a whole bunch of new members.”
The co-op plans to launch a $1.7 million capital campaign this spring to cover site design, construction and the costs associated with opening a community-owned grocery store, said Carol Ritter, the capital campaign chair. Funds will be raised from donations, member loans, bank loans and grants. Sponsorship and naming rights are available. The co-op’s nine-member board of directors have each signed on to financially support the new store already.
To celebrate the location selection, the co-op is hosting a drive-by party for the community from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m Saturday. An unveiling of a large banner declaring the site the “Future Home of the Bethlehem Food Co-Op”, crafted by the Northampton Community College Fab Lab, will be revealed at 10 a.m. The event will be live streamed on the co-op’s Facebook page and on Lehigh Valley with Love’s social channels.
Volunteers will be on hand to distribute co-op marketing materials and membership info to those driving by. The co-op notes that due to COVID-19 there will be no gathering at the event.
Credit: Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com.
