Madison's three main co-op grocers have experienced dramatic changes in recent years. While the Mifflin Street Co-op and the Regent Market Co-op have struggled, the Williamson Street Co-op, has thrived.
Over the past six years, the Willy Street Co-op, 1221 Williamson St., has acquired close to 8,000 new members and the store expects approximately $14.2 million in sales for the upcoming fiscal year.
""Every month we go through our stock two-and-a-half times,"" said Brandon Smith, communications manager for the flourishing co-op.
With close to 14,000 members, the Willy Street Co-op is quickly becoming the largest grocery store of its kind in the city.
""The neighborhood helps a lot,"" Smith said of the liberal East Side area. ""They are very interested in some of the same ideals that we have as a co-op.""
The business started in 1974 but moved to its current location only six years ago. Smith accounts for the huge increase in membership by citing the type of products that they market. The Willy Street Co-op is known for its wide selection of organic products.
""There's been a huge increase in membership due to a huge increase in the popularity of organic foods,"" Smith said.
But as business has boomed on Willy Street, the Regent Market Co-op, 2724 Regent St., and the Mifflin Street Co-op, 32 N. Bassett St., have slumped.
Jim Huberty, general manager of the 1,400-member Regent Market Co-op, said the store is simply looking for an increase in sales.
""Membership is important but it's not enough,"" he said. ""We need patronage and we need to bring awareness to the store.""
According to Huberty, sales have been declining for about two years. The expected sales for the upcoming fiscal year are about $270,000 less than the amount needed to sustain the business.
Huberty insisted there is no rivalry between his store and any others, including the Willy Street Co-op.
""It's not us versus them, it's us and them,"" Huberty said. ""We gain nothing by going against each other, only by cooperating.""
Once at the forefront of the co-op movement during the 1970s, the thousand-member Mifflin Street Co-op has also run into financial trouble. Currently it owes a total of $18,000 to the IRS because of unpaid payroll and unemployment taxes between 1998 and 2005.
Co-Manager Esther Schmidt declined to comment on the store's problems with the IRS, but said the co-op plans an auction next week to boost revenue and awareness.
""We're trying to increase our sales,"" Schmidt said. ""That's just what businesses do.""
