Tallahassee Community Co-op Market to Remain Open Amid Financial Struggles

Financial Pressures Facing the Apalachee Parkway Store

The organic grocer has operated at a deficit for several years, leading board member Wis Benoit to issue a public plea for help on Facebook ahead of the scheduled executive committee meeting. According to Benoit, the store is running out of cash reserves and needs roughly $120,000 per week in revenue to remain sustainable. The market currently brings in between $100,000 and $110,000 weekly.

Benoit calculated that if the co-op’s 2,000-plus members each spent at least $30, the store would have a fighting chance to stay open. The market’s executive committee had been slated to vote on whether to cease operations entirely, driven by fiduciary responsibilities to stay in integrity with partners as cash reserves dwindled.

Competition and Past Overhauls Since 2020

Community Co-op Market took over the former New Leaf Market location on Apalachee Parkway in 2020 after New Leaf struggled with financial pressures following the arrival of competitors like Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Earth Fare, and Lucky’s. Shortly after opening under the new name, the store encountered the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent inflation spikes through 2022 and 2023.

To spur recovery in early 2024, management lowered prices by about 40% on pantry staples such as rice, flour, beans, and vegetables. Despite those adjustments and a shifting business model, the store continued to face narrow margins and tight cash flow.

Community Support and Upcoming Events

In response to the board member’s warning, local shoppers have amplified social media campaigns encouraging residents to patronize the store. The market reposted Benoit’s update, emphasizing that every purchase supports local employees, farmers, and independent vendors.

Additional community-led efforts include an event organized by the acoustic duo Hot Tamale, scheduled for August 29. The pair invited the public to a “Folk Club in the Cafe” event to encourage grocery shopping, cold drinks, and community gathering inside the co-op.