10-04-01-2.M 3/29/10 11:26 PM Page 1 UNOFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE PARK SLOPE FOOD COOP Established 1973 Volume HA, Number 1 April 1, 2010 Coop to Purchase Key Food Property on Fifth Avenue By Al Dente fter months of closed-door negotiations and a contentious Gen- eral Meeting on February 23, the General Coordinators and Board A of Directors of the Park Slope Food Coop announced today that the purchase of the Key Food store and property on Fifth Avenue and Prospect Avenue has been finalized. “We are thrilled with the new possibilities this repre- sents for the store,” announced Pit bull mix Cola shares the Childcare couch with Evan and a smiling Joe Holtz, General his baby sister Vanessa. Manager of the Coop. “With the recent surge in member- ship, the more spacious store Who Let The Dogs In? will allow us to expand our line of products, offer longer hours PSFC Opens Childcare to Dogs and allow our members to actually park their cars in that By Amy Pearl big lot next to the store.” “It’s definitely a new day for hey say every dog has but we don’t want to discour- the Coop,” echoed General his day. And at the Park age our human members Coordinator Jessica Robinson. T Slope Food Coop, he’ll from spending time with their “We’ve hired a green architect have his daycare, too. canine companions,” Herpel to work with us on a redesign Artist’s rendering of the new store with signage in place. After paying more than said. “This is a win/win situa- of the space, and we’re work- $1,500 in noise violations in tion. Dogs and kids go togeth- ing on a community outreach was going on the market last office about tax breaks for the 2009, the Coop ended the er like pit bulls and pork program to encourage all the year. It’s a large parcel of land property when the Coop practice of leaving dogs unat- chops. Everyone is happy.” former Key Food shoppers to on trendy Fifth Avenue, mak- stepped in and made an offer. tended outside the store by In fact, not everyone is become Coop members.” ing it irresistible to real estate Ratner made a counter-offer opening up childcare to four- happy. Reaction to the The new store is spacious— developers. In fact, Bruce Rat- and a bidding war ensued. legged members. The new announcement among mem- over 20,000 square feet of floor ner, the controversial develop- However, Ratner eventually policy offers daycare spots to bers was mixed. space, plus a full basement of er of Atlantic Yards, expressed withdrew from negotiations up to 12 dogs at a time, Friday Charlene Powers is a squad about the same size. The park- a serious interest, saying, “I when the mayor’s office through Sunday, from 7 a.m. leader on the Goat Milk Com- ing lot holds 120 cars and think that it’s important to refused him eminent domain to 7 p.m. If the service proves mittee. “That’s fine for dog there are plans to also use it keep constructing more luxury status for the property, leaving popular, it will be expanded owners,” Powers said, “But I for bike racks, stroller parking condominium towers in this the Coop with the winning bid. to the rest of the week. have a budgie and 2 guinea and possibly a dog run. part of Brooklyn.” Other devel- So what was the final pur- Ann Herpel is the coordi- pigs. What am I supposed to opers were interested as well, chase price? “You don’t want nator in charge of doggy day- do with them while I shop? Bidding War but Ratner was the most seri- to know!” said Holtz, rolling care. “We can’t afford to keep The Coop first heard of the ous contender. He was in his eyes. paying fines for barking dogs, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 possibility that the property negotiations with the mayor’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 IN THIS ISSUE Thu, Apr 8 • Cooking Class: Vegan Hash Brownies Coop Membership Soars to 36,000 . 3 7:00 p.m. Letters to the Editor . 3 Coop Mon, Apr 19• Movie Night: Avatar in 3D, with special guest Coffeehouse . 4 speaker James Cameron 8:00 p.m. Workslot Needs . 4 Event Welcome to These New Members . 4 Fri, Apr 31 • The Good Coffeehouse: Bruce Springsteen & the Highlights E Street Band 8:00 p.m. Look for additional information about these and other events in this issue. 10-04-01-2.M 3/29/10 11:26 PM Page 2 2 April 1, 2010 Park Slope Food Coop, Brooklyn, NY heard me. I thought I was going the space. “We are cautiously also consider different mem- Key Food CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 to die. So yeah, I am happy we optimistic about this move bership structures such as are going to a bigger space.” but a complete top-to-bot- special days for non-member, Big Plans Paulette Wallet, a busy Mr. Webster was eventually tom environmental impact a lottery where the winnings There is much work to be mother of three small chil- freed from his chilly prison, but statement needs to be done. are a family membership for a done at the new store. An dren, who were all pulling not until the store was about to We’d like to look into build- certain period of time and a environmental consultant has boxes of cereal off the close and his fingertips were ing the new second floor with guest-worker program. been brought in to assess the shelves, expressed her turning blue. straw bales and plastic soda damage that years of conven- delight at the news, “Oh I With membership at bottles. And with so much How Long? tionally produced food has hope they think about putting 36,000 (see story on page 3), space, we think we might be The General Coordinators had on the space. An architec- in a room for breast feeding. the Coop has been contem- able to recycle the fryer oil anticipate the renovations and tural firm is designing a new You have no idea how hostile plating drastic measures to from all the restaurants on move will take about eight layout for the store and base- people can be, even here! It’s deal with the crowds of shop- Fifth Avenue to generate our years to complete. New con- ment storage areas. To accom- just the most natural thing in pers, tight storage space in own electricity.” struction and renovating com- modate the Coop’s enormous the world and we need to the basement and the flaring “I don’t like it,” said octo- mittees are being formed to membership, at least one make sure nursing moms are tempers it has produced. The genarian Amethyst Blue, a tackle specific tasks like more floor is being planned comfortable.” new property and plans for member of the Coop since its choosing non-toxic paint col- for the building, with a state- One of the Krasdale dri- expansion will help alleviate inception. “My member num- ors, buying toys for the child- of-the-art meeting space, vers, who would only give his many of these problems. ber is 08 and I’ve seen a lot of care room and deciding which large commercial kitchen and name as Spike, offered his Not everyone was thrilled changes, some good, some new products the store will yoga/ meditation rooms. assessment of the new prop- at the news. Red Schwinn, a bad. Getting shopping carts carry. Another committee will Offices, childcare (with a was a great thing. We didn’t work on what to do with the “time-out” room and its own have to push cardboard boxes future of the Union Street juice bar), plus a lounge and around the floor. But this? buildings. Selling them will fitness center for the staff are We’re turning into Costco.” help raise cash for the move, also in the works. There is but with a stagnant real estate even talk of a roof-top garden, Neighborhood Reaction market, it might not be the where the Coop could grow Perhaps the biggest outcry best time. Membership Coor- some of its own produce. against the expansion has dinator Cynthia Pennycooke “One of the great things been from members of the wants the Coop to hang on to about the new store is that it’s community, who are upset at at least one of the buildings only a one-story structure. So the loss of a large, conven- “We can open a Coop Muse- the sky’s the limit!” said tional grocery store. um,” she offered. “We’ve saved Robinson. “We can also sell “What’s up with that?” said every Gazette, sales receipt the air rights if we need to Margaret Mayo, a long-time and vendor invoice since we raise cash for future growth.” Key Food shopper. “I don’t opened. I even have the card- The new store should ease overcrowding, like this recent want to have to work for my board box that I used to carry scene in the produce aisle. Members React food. I just want to pay home my first groceries. I think The response of most mem- erty: “That’s f---ing great. You member of the Valet Bicycle money and go home.” a museum would be of great bers interviewed for this story have no f---ing idea what a f--- Committee, was outraged, Borough President Marty interest to the community and was positive.