Dear FANTASTIC supporters of Citizens Co-op :

We thank you so much for your incredible generosity in aiding the Co-op with its Summer launch of Citizens Co-op, A community owned and operated marketplace here in Gainesville, Fl - offering an abundant array of local, organic, and natural foods at affordable and fair prices. 

The store held its GRAND OPENING on July 15th, 2011 to a huge party and welcome response from our local residents.

Our sales and membership levels have continued to grow steadily since July, by about 15% each month now. And the amount of local vendors that we are able to support with steady purchases at fair prices continues to grow as well - over 25 area businesses are supported by this market. We have employed 12 enthusiastic team members who love coming to work at a business they co-own and can help to co-create.

Of course, we have met our fair share of challenges. Let's call them "learning opportunities" along the way. It's been a roller coaster these past few months. But we're still here. We're breathing. And we are just pickled to have our very own local Co-op in this little corner of the world.

So our HATS OFF! to you, for believing in this vision, for voting with your dollars, and for being a part of this groundbreaking new business model with us. 

Your gifts have all arrived safely and in beautiful and tasty condition to the Co-op now. We truly apologize for not facilitating these to you sooner ~ as you may gather from our message above ~ we've had our hands very full indeed! Alas, we have made it in time to ship you these gifts before the Holidays, in the hopes that you can enjoy, relish, delight in, and share the treats we have to offer as a humble THANK YOU to you.

In Cooperation, and with the utmost gratitude,

Gretchen McIntyre, Co-Founder, and the ENTIRE Co-op Team

Thank you so much!! We are 90% funded now, and within reach of our final fundraising goal for opening the Co-op store. Tell your friends - only 40 hours left to pledge. Celebrate Earth Day this April 22nd by sharing our success story with those you know. Let's work together to create a business that truly values people and the planet.

As of today, we have officially raised over $260,000 for the Co-op --- all from memberships and investments from within our community. If we meet our Kickstarter goal by Saturday at 5pm, we will officially have raised every dollar projected for the start-up and opening of this store. That's it - a clear pathway to opening from here!

We've added one new pledge level for all the friends of our community out there who still haven't purchased a Co-op Membership. Pledge $105 here and now, and you'll become a co-owner of this project with us. Benefits include discounts and specials in the store, a vote on the board of directors, special bulk ordering rates, and the ability to have a voice in the products that we carry.

If you don't live in Gainesville, as a Co-operative member, you will still receive discounts and specials at Co-op stores around the country. "Cooperation Amongst Cooperatives" is a founding principle of this business model.

Thank you all for your support.  

"Respecting life on Earth is part of being a true citizen in this world, what common humanity demands…"

- Jeremy Bendik-Keymer, The Ecological Life



Help us in these final days of fundraising... Share this project with friends and colleagues. Every $5 helps! We have a donor willing to match the funds raised here, so let's raise the bar as high as we can!

The latest in renovation updates --- 

• We've finished staining our older concrete floors, looking shiny and new now in a nice rusty earth tone. 
• Our dear Art friends at the Imaginarium have constructed us a beautiful bartop for the front window using reclaimed wood and recycled steel bedframes. 
• The donated walk-in coolers we salvaged from a restaurant going out of business have been power-washed and re-assembled into a 400 square foot unit of freezer and refrigerated space for storing our local goods.
• We located used produce cooler displays and reach-in refrigeration for the store floor from a local equipment vendor, to be installed at the end of this week.

Although we haven't raised all of the funds for the store opening yet, we're almost there! With your help, and by sharing this project with friends and colleagues, we can reach our final benchmark within weeks, and be able to open Gainesville's first local food co-op by May. 

Help us get the final push in this last week of fundraising through Kickstarter... 

In cooperation & gratitude,

The Citizens Co-op Team