Robbinsdale food-coop meeting set for Jan. 14

The grass-roots effort to get a food co-op in Robbinsdale is continuing in the new year with a meeting Jan. 14.

Since this summer, a group of residents and city leaders have been discussing starting a co-op to replace the city's only grocery store, a Rainbow Foods, which closed last April. Traditional grocers showed little interest in Robbinsdale, citing unfavorable market research.

"People are still really interested in seeing it happen," said Joanna Bakken, who heads the co-op committee. "It's good to see the community coming together."

The group is working to get the business licensed, establish members and raise funds. It's still too early, she said, to know when or where the co-op could open, though she said she hopes it will be in Robbinsdale and draw members from nearby cities like Brooklyn Park and Crystal.

The Jan. 14 meeting will start at 7 p.m. at Robbinsdale United Church of Christ, 4200 Lake Road. For more information, go to www.robbinsdalefoodcoop.org.

KELLY SMITH

@kellystrib