GREENFIELD — Franklin Community Co-op has let its letter of intent to move into the former Wilson’s Department Store building expire, but managers say that doesn’t mean it won’t eventually return to the idea.
“We don’t have a timeline or a place in mind,” Franklin Community Co-op Outreach and Communications Manager Sarah Kanabay said. “We just don’t know. There are so many variables that have happened because of the pandemic.”
Kanabay said the “overall goal” is still the same — for the cooperative, which oversees Green Fields Market at 170 Main St. in Greenfield and McCusker’s Market at 3 State St. in Shelburne Falls, to expand in Greenfield.
“We feel more strongly than ever that a cooperative grocery store is necessary for the local economy,” she said.
In January, Franklin Community Co-op announced that it was exploring relocating its Greenfield store to the former Wilson’s Department Store building at 258 Main St., but in March, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, those plans were disrupted.
Kanabay said Green Fields Market and McCusker’s Market have remained open and provided essential services and food, but store operations have, by necessity, been substantially altered and that has had a significant impact on business, though creativity and participation in the Paycheck Protection Program have provided a cushion.
“Every effort is being made to ensure continuity of services, but sales have been unpredictable, like the pandemic, making it challenging to offer stable financial projections, both now and in the future,” she said. “Local is definitely where it’s at in terms of resilience and weathering unprecedented times.”
Across the country there has been a disruption in national supply chains, but because Franklin Community Co-op depends mostly on local farmers and supplies, it has made for a stronger local food economy, according to Kanabay. She said the co-op pivoted when the pandemic hit to almost completely rely on strong local relationships it has built over the years.
“We’ve all helped each other out and been able to address many of the challenges,” she said.
Future expansion plans require a fresh assessment, Kanabay and other co-op member/owners and board members agree. She said at this time, the co-op is “exploring different options,” but she did not want to say if there are any particular spaces it is looking at.
Franklin Community Co-op still wants to expand because there has been sustained sales growth, and expansion is most viable option to stabilize the organization. Board members have said its current facilities do not have the capacity to maintain the necessary, consistent level of growth.
Kanabay said member/owners will continue to provide input and have already said they want to keep the co-op in downtown Greenfield.
Reach Anita Fritz at 413-772-9591 or afritz@recorder.com.