Pullman Co-op's Bishop Boulevard Store plans stalled due to funding issues

PULLMAN — The Pullman Good Food Co-op has gone back to the drawing board after its plans to establish a location in town fell through.

The local nonprofit anticipated opening a store on Bishop Boulevard near Pullman Village Centre Cinemas, but failed to raise enough money to purchase the building.

Andy Jacobs, chairperson of the co-op’s Board of Directors, said the start-up needed to garner half a million dollars by Monday for a down payment and other immediate costs. But its fundraising efforts were unsuccessful.

“We’ve got the membership base we need and have the capacity for building,” he said. “We just couldn’t get the financial component.”

Co-op leadership expressed interest in the site last fall when it announced plans of signing a purchasing sale agreement. The 8,000-square-foot facility was put up for sale last year for $3 million. It formerly housed the Fireside Grille and Unify Family Dental.

Jacobs said the building “checked all the boxes’’ for a new co-op. The property included ample parking, loading docks for delivery trucks and plenty of space. He added it was also highly visible and accessible, being on Pullman Transit’s routes and nearby local trails.

The nonprofit had spent five years looking for a location before settling on the facility. He added during that time it had reviewed more than 25 sites across Pullman.

Jacobs said the co-op’s location committee will resume its search for a property. He added suggestions from the community are encouraged and any input is appreciated.

Instead of prioritizing fundraising, he said the start-up will shift efforts and prioritize recruiting members.

Jacobs said the co-op has nearly 900 owners. Its goal is to gather 1,500 members before opening.

Unlike traditional grocery stores, Jacobs said co-ops are owned and directed by their members. He added while anyone can shop at the co-op, owners receive special benefits like discounts at the store and other businesses in the region.

It takes a buy-in to become an owner at the co-op. Options include $200 for a one-time payment lifetime membership, or $25 recurring payments for a quarterly membership, according to its website.

Jacobs said funds donated for the Bishop location and others accumulated from membership contributions will be invested into the co-op’s future.

“We will certainly need the capital to open a store at the new location,” he said.

The co-op’s goal is to address food insecurity while supporting farms and vendors in the area. Jacobs said it would heavily emphasize selling locally sourced goods, offering an array of affordable products.

While the venture may have seemed ambitious, Jacobs said co-op officials believed they were ready to establish a store. He added many start-ups have opened on a similar timeline, and the nonprofit has the community’s support.

“We will continue moving forward,” Jacobs said. “We have more than enough finances on hand to continue our search.”

Learn more about the Pullman Good Food Co-op by visiting pullmangoodfoodcoop.com.

Pearce can be reached at epearce@dnews.com