August 16, 2007 Issue                                       

©2007 The Chestnut Hill Local

Weaver’s Way considers expansion
by KRISTIN PAZULSKI

Weaver’s Way Cooperative in Mt. Airy invited its members to a meeting to discuss possible expansion plans in the cooperative’s future.

Members at the July 23 meeting were both skeptical and supportive of the cooperative expanding — which would involve either growing the current location at Greene and Carpenter lanes or opening a second store in the Northwest, likely East Falls, Chestnut Hill or Germantown, said Jon McGoran, the communications manager for the cooperative.

No decisions have been made yet, McGoran cautioned. The goal of the meeting was just to start conversation among members, who as members of a cooperative are invested in the ownership of the store.

“There’s definitely a contingent of members that doesn’t want change of any shape, size or kind,” McGoran said. But there’s also an understanding by some that expansion may be necessary if the cooperative wants to successfully serve its current membership, which numbers about 3,200.

Weavers Way opened in the early 1970s as a small, independent grocer that sold locally grown goods to the residents of Mt. Airy. Members of the cooperative pay an annual or lifelong fee and dedicate a few hours a year to working at the cooperative.

Over the years, the cooperative has grown in membership, leading to a need to grow the store’s space.

Household membership has grown 14.2 percent in the past three years, and sales have grown about 10 percent each of those years.

The cooperative, which moved into the 555 Carpenter’s Lane storefront in 1973, has needed to expand twice before, into the adjacent spaces at 557 and 559 Carpenter Lane.

Now, the cooperative is finding that space is tight again.

At the meeting, Glenn Bergman said the usual sales per square foot for similar cooperatives are $1,200, but Weavers Way is nearly double that at $2,200.

McGoran explained that expansion isn’t exactly necessary, but if the cooperative wants to continue as is, without limiting membership or shopping, that expansion will eventually be necessary.

The cooperative draws only a third of its business from households within walking distance, McGoran said. The other third comes from an area about a mile around the cooperative, and another third comes from all over – including some from out of state and suburbs.

No decision has been reached about whether to expand or not, McGoran said, and conversation among the members and the cooperative’s staff is expected to continue.