EL Food Coop invests locally with $200K renovations

Some big changes have been underway at the East Lansing Food Coop. The community grocer celebrated their Grand Re-Opening in late January, unveiling a new store layout, renovated flooring, LED lighting fixtures, a new bathroom and more.
 
“A lot of our equipment has been well loved and starting to show its age,” says ELFC General Manager Dave Finet. “It started out as a little reset of the store. But as we got looking at it and working with folks in the coop sector, they suggested that now is the time to invest in the store.”
 
The ELFC, which is a community-owned grocer, decided to go all and make the store exactly the way our shoppers would like it to be. Appropriate to the store’s mission, the community was able to offer input on the renovations before and during the project.
 
Upgrades include a new area for Michigan beers and wine, and an expanded produce section, including new cheese and meat coolers.
 
“We have so many local products and local producers,” says Finet. “We wanted to focus on the things that are coming in fresh and how we can keep them fresh and get them right out to the public.”
 
According to Finet, the ELFC spent about $200,000 in the renovation project, with a focus on keeping their investment in the community by utilizing local contractors.
 
“It’s turned out really great,” says Finet. “Now we’re focused on getting more folks hip to what the coop is about and providing them everything the need.”