Downtown FAQ

Updated FAQ 12/10

When will Willy Street Co-op—Downtown open?
Currently, we're scheduling it for mid-March of 2008. We've had a few delays up to this point, but feel good about the date now.

What's a member bond, and when can I get one?
Member bonds are basically loans from our members that are paid back at a reasonable rate of return. We will be holding a member bond drive in January - check that month's newsletter for more information. Please contact the General Manager, Anya Firszt, at or 251-6776 if you are interested and we will send you the materials when they are ready.

What will the new store be called? “Willy Street Co-op” even though it wouldn't be on Willy Street?
Both stores will be called Willy Street Co-op, but will be referred to as "Willy Street Co-op—Eastside" and "Willy Street Co-op—Downtown."

Where will it be?
The corner of N. Broom and W. Mifflin Streets, just a few blocks from the Capitol.

When will Willy Street Co-op—Downtown open?
February of 2008.

How big will it be?
It will have 8750 sq. ft. of retail space; the store at 1221 has 9500 sq. ft.

Why that location?
This location had the highest number of criteria the Board was looking for in a second store site. Some of these were:

• Market research indicates the site will draw a sufficient amount of current and new shoppers, and more than other sites.
• Should reduce the shopping load at our current store by being more convenient to downtown, Westside and Southside shoppers.
• Enough parking.
• Promotes density, community and urban infill on the isthmus.
• Excellent access for pedestrians, bicycles, buses and even streetcars.
• The Co-op will have an option to purchase the new store in the future.

What was wrong with the other sites you were considering?
Many of the sites had good aspects (size, potential revenue, how little work had to be done before opening, etc.), but no site has as many positives as the Willy Street Co-op—Downtown site does.

How much will it cost and where will that money come from?
The project will cost $2.7 million. This includes leasehold improvements, equipment, additional inventory, start-up expenses and an overrun allowance. The money will come from a combination of retained earnings, member loans via bond sales, new memberships and bank loans.

What's a member bond, and when can I get one?
Member bonds are basically loans from our members that are paid back at a reasonable rate of return. We will be holding a member bond drive in July and August, but please contact the General Manager, Anya Firszt, via or at 251-6776 if you are interested and we will send you the materials when they are ready.

How will the two stores be similar?

• Both stores would be parts of Willy Street Co-op. There would be different staff (for the most part – some managers would oversee both stores) and some different products, but both stores would make up one co-op and will share the same overall goals.
• When you're a member of Willy Street Co-op, you can shop at both stores; there won't be separate memberships.
• Like the Eastside store, the Downtown one will have Produce, Deli, Grocery, and Health & Wellness departments.

How will the two stores be different?

• Each community is going to have slightly different needs, and both co-ops will evolve to address the particular needs of its community. This means that each store will look a little different, have a few products the other doesn't and hold different events, all based on the members who frequent that store.
• Willy Street Co-op—Downtown will have a greater emphasis on prepared foods.

What will Willy Street Grocery Co-op bring to the neighborhood?
WSGC will bring additional jobs that would all pay at least the Dane County Living Wage ($9.62/hour plus health insurance). As our mission statement says, we would recognize the right of workers to participatory management and a humane work environment. We would bring a store that is owned and controlled democratically by its members. With an additional store and additional members, we would have more resources to support community programs and organizations as well as local farmers.

Why did we pick that site, especially if farther west side sites were reported to be "better" according to the market studies?
The market studies only rate sites by what they predict sales to be; the Board had additional criteria such as accessibility, ability to own or eventually own the site, and how well the site would serve the greatest number of existing members. The Metropolitan Place site scored the highest when all of our criteria were considered.

How will Willy Street Co-op—Downtown affect Willy Street Co-op—Eastside?
We expect the Eastside store to slow down a little bit as far as customer count and sales. This relief from stress on the Eastside store was a major reason we pursued opening a second store. We also expect that the Eastside store staff will work closely with the Downtown store staff identify synergies and collaborate on opportunities for both stores and communities.

What about Capitol Centre Foods?
Less than 3% of the items we offer are conventional brands, so our services are very distinct from one another. We are looking forward to offering expanded fresh and prepared foods services that we are known for, as well as organics and locally grown foods. Our store will be full-service but the items offered are very different from those that Capitol Centre Foods brings to the community. The new store and Capitol Centre Foods will complement each other rather than directly compete. We also see the new store returning a cooperative to the neighborhood, even if it isn't Mifflin Street Community Co-op.

Are there any plans to open a third store?
There are currently no plans to open a third store in the immediate future. But we have made organizational structure changes that would support up to four stores, should we pursue that in years to come. Of course, there would be another vote to approve expenditure of funds in that case.

How has Trader Joe's impacted our business?
We've seen sales decrease by approximately 3% (compared to what we projected they would be) in the last year, and attribute at least some of that to Trader Joe's.

How do I ask questions or make comments about this?
You can write a comment in the binder at the Information Station (near the reverse osmosis water machine) at Willy Street Co-op—Eastside. Or you can e-mail . Questions asked either way will be added to the next round of the FAQ.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Co-op Opening a Downtown Store – UPDATE 7/17

Is the downtown store going to be more expensive?

No, pricing will be the same between the two stores.

Will we both have the same operating hours?

To keep things simple to start, both stores will have the same hours of operation, at least in our first six months of operation.

Why didn't we partner with Mifflin Street Community Co-op to go downtown?

WSGC board met with Mifflin's board to discuss opportunities to collaborate. Mifflin members voted down the proposal to partner with us. We also funded a market study for Mifflin to research the possibility of operating out of a different downtown site.

Will there be seating?

Yes, there is both an indoor and outdoor area to sit down and have something to eat.

When will we be profitable again?

We are estimating profitability after about three years.

UPDATE regarding member bonds

Member bonds will now be sold after the new store opens.

Why didn't we choose a location for a second store that did more to help disenfranchised Madison residents?

"Serving an underserved community" was one consideration among many criteria used to rate each site. Others, such as providing more service to existing members, accessibility and being able to eventually buy the store (rather than lease it), were also very important to us. The Metro Place site fulfilled the most criteria, which we hope will improve services to the greatest number of members.