New Pioneer Food Co-op considering Iowa City relocation

Two- year-old Thalia Svec pushed her miniature grocery cart through the aisles of the New Pioneer Food Co-Op located at 22 South Van Buren Street in Iowa City Thursday afternoon.

The Svec family frequents the grocery store nearly every day.

Soon, however, Thalia may find herself weaving her way around the newly tiled floors of an expanded co-op.

Due to expanded membership and a shortage of inventory space, New Pioneer is considering a possible relocation of its Iowa City store to another site in the downtown area.

“We're committed to maintaining a store in the downtown,” said Sara Walz, president of the New Pioneer Food Co-op Board of Directors.  “So right now we are just looking at anything and everything in the downtown area making sure we leave no stone unturned.”

Some members may question why the co-op couldn't expand on its current site.  According to federal flood plain regulations, the co-op can only spend approximately $140,000 (or about fifty percent of the assessed value of its building) on improvements.  If the co-op goes above that limit, it is required to flood-proof the entire store to one foot above the 100-year flood elevation which would require building a wall that could cost an estimated $2,000,000.

Walz said the co-op is exploring the idea of building a new store that is twice the size of the Van Buren location.

“I don't think we at all imagine ourselves to be a large supermarket type store,” Walz said.

Walz explained the co-op would like to provide more product options, some sit down seating, among other amenities.

Tahlia's mother Teresa likes the idea of a new store, but would miss the quaintness of the current location.

“Obviously the space here is small,” Teresa said.  “But I'm also attached to downtown Iowa City and having it close to where we live and play and all that stuff.”

For the Svec family, the idea of relocating is “a mixed bag.”

Other co-op members are more opinionated on the relocation possibility.

Chris Charles has shopped at the Van Buren location since college.  She disagrees with the idea of replacing this store.

“No, they have everything they need,” Charles said.  “This is just my favorite store.”

Nathan Brock, 28, of Iowa City says expansion is good and he has always been happy with the co-op.

“I prefer this location,” he said.  “[It's] just convenient.  [It's] Just a couple of blocks from where I work downtown here.  As long as it is in walking distance in downtown I would be happy I guess.”

Walz said the co-op wants to hear from as many of its 20,000 members as possible before it will make a final decision about relocating – a process that may take several months.

Until then, Thalia is content to help her mom shop and munch on one of her favorite co-op chocolate cookies.