Home Co-op grand opening July 9
Local

Co-op grand opening July 9

Friendly City Food Co-Op, Harrisonburg’s consumer-owned grocery, invites the community to come see its new destination for natural, organic and locally-produced products at the store’s grand opening 11 a.m.-5 p.m. July 9 at 150 East Wolfe Street.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. with Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Matt Lohr, Harrisonburg Mayor Richard Baugh and representatives from Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance and Friendly City Food Co-op.

Free demos and food samples include:

● Shenandoah Growers— Free fresh local herbs
● Homestead Creamery— Free locally-made ice cream
● Golden Angels Apiary—Free local honey tasting and live bee hive (enclosed)
● PULP—Free smoothies
● Local Chop & Grill House—Food demo with Chef Ryan Zale
● Equal Exchange— Free fair trade coffee and chocolate
● Dave’s Taverna— Free homemade pizza
● Local massage therapists—Free massages

Children’s activities will include a “chalk-a-thon” and scavenger hunt hosted by Friendly City Food Co-op and CommonPlace Harrisonburg; tote bag tie-dying; fruit and veggie face painting; and photos with Freddie the Friendly Carrot.

Local favorites The Steel Wheels, Dish Dogs, and Olivarez Trio will provide live music.

In addition, raffle tickets win prizes including yoga classes, massages, local restaurant gift certificates, local foods gift baskets and a kids’ swimming pool full of groceries.

Friendly City’s 4,000-square-foot facility is a full-service grocery store where everyone can shop and anyone can join. Friendly City’s membership includes 1,400 households, far surpassing its 1,300 goal by opening, said General Manager Steve Cooke.

Friendly City recently became the newest member of the National Cooperative Grocers Association (NCGA), a business services cooperative serving 120 consumer-owned food co-ops nationwide.

Contributors

Contributors

Have a guest column, letter to the editor, story idea or a news tip? Email editor Chris Graham at [email protected]. Subscribe to AFP podcasts on Apple PodcastsSpotifyPandora and YouTube.