In January of 1975 work began on a storefront in the Hyde Park district that was owned by Gene Drabinski. Moving in February to 1513 N.13th was the next big step. The basic dirt floor storefront originally housed the Salvation Army. In the new store bulk foods were stored in barrels. There was no beer or wine, not too many perishables and no meat, as there was limited refrigeration. The Co-op also made sandwiches, baking their own bread daily. Canned goods and some housewares were also available. The first month at the new location brought in sales of $4000, with the second month sales reaching $6000. By 1984 membership had grown considerably and the year’s sales reached $1 million. In 1984 the Boise Co-op moved to its 3rd location at Hill Road and Harrison Blvd. This location was very crowded opening up to a produce department, wine and beer sales, supplements, and a partial deli in approximately square feet. Parking was also a problem with only 21 spaces. By 1988, it was obvious to Ken Kavanagh that yet another move to a bigger location was needed. It was then that he began the calls to the old M & W market on Fort Street. In 1996, sales hit $5.5 million, and the Co-op moved to its current location. Now located in 26,000 square feet, we are still using every available space for shopping, stocking, and housing our staff. Our departments have all expanded, as well as our staff, and our product lines. When things got technical the Co-op bought the house across the street for additional offices and staff. Today the Co-op keeps on growing. Products include 65,000 items; a staff that includes 120 people; membership has grown to over 20,000; and an average of $15 million in sales. And the Co-op is still about providing healthy, great tasting food for a reasonable price. OUR PURPOSE The Boise Co-op exists to improve people's lives. OUR VISION The Boise Co-op is an organization that continually sets the example for building and maintaining a sustainable community. OUR MISSION The Boise Co-op is a customer-driven organization that assembles the best people and resources to deliver the finest sustainable and specialty products to the community. PRODUCT STANDARDS Knowing the difference that natural products can make to one’s quality of life, education is an integral part of the service we offer our customers. In addition to buying from local suppliers who share our vision, we also support Fair Trade practices. If you have questions about any of our products, please ask. If we don’t have the answer, we will find it! COMMUNITY The Boise Co-op also has a far-sighted commitment to community. From the American Heart Association to the Idaho Peace Coalition and numerous other worthy organizations, we actively support events that improve quality of life through a variety of venues. A significant portion of our revenue is returned to community projects each year. ENVIRONMENT Out of respect for the environment, we recycle, reuse and conserve in every manner possible. All qualifying materials are recycled. The store has been designed to minimize the use of natural resources and energy, and we seek vendors who demonstrate a similar commitment. OWNER MEMBER INFORMATION Information on our Annual Member-Owner / Board-of-Directors Meeting is held in the fall. To view our corporate documents, click on the appropriate link below.
The next Boise Co-op Annual Member Meeting and Board of Directors Election will be held in November 2008. |
