Company Shops Market in Burlington N.C. is Officially Closing
BURLINGTON, NC — After seven years in operation, the Company Shops Market: Burlington's Food Co-op has announced this week that it will officially close on Sunday, May 27.
The market located in downtown Burlington on East Front Street, 10 minutes from Elon University's campus, sold a variety of organic and sustainably grown produce.
A store front view of Burlington's Food Co-op, that announced this week that Sunday, May 27 will be its last official day open, May 23.
According to an official statement released on May 24, the Co-op's closing is due to two main reasons, less people in Burlington and competing grocery stores.
"Though there are many new businesses in Downtown Burlington and plans for more in the future, the number of people working daily there is much lower than it was when we first opened our doors," said the official statement.
The increase and improvement of competing grocery stores was the second reason for the Co-op to close.
"The owners of competing grocery stores have renovated their stores and some news stores have opened, as well. Nationwide, this trend towards chain stores with 'local' and 'organic' offerings severely hurt and closed many other grocery co-ops, just like ours," said the official statement. "Over time, low sales have left us with limited resources to stock our shelves, which in turn has led to even lower sales."
The closing comes as a blow to longtime patrons such as Elon senior Greta Anne Worden, who found herself going to the Co-Op weekly to buy kombucha tea.
"Whenever I went to the Co-op it felt like there were more people who were into what I am into," Worden said. "I like the community, the food and honestly, everything there."
For Worden, the Co-op was the perfect place to do her groceries.
"I really believe in eating organic and there is not a lot of that offered at other grocery stores, and when it is, it's not as local as the Co-Op," Worden said. "So, the fact the Co-Op is closing kind of shows the community doesn't seem to care that much about organic food and that makes me really sad."
According to the Co-op's website, many of their products came from over 40 local and organic farms and suppliers.
......
To read the entire article, visit: Elon News Network http://www.elonnewsnetwork.com/article/2018/05/burlingtons-food-co-op-an...
Many Thanks to Our Sponsors over the Years
