The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
North of 53 Consumers Co-op has closed its snack bar to make way for an expansion of the bakery, deli and produce selections. The board of directors voted three weeks ago to close the snack bar, which has lost more than $64,000 over the past three years. The last day of operations was January 3. "We're under continuous pressure with our produce, bakery and deli to expand the varieties," said Co-op general manager Greg Baribeau. "We've been planning for quite some time now to expand the food floor. The snack bar, which is very underutilized, was an obvious route to go." Renovations are already underway to use the former snack bar area to display additional produce, bakery and deli offerings. In keeping with the concept of more variety, the Co-op also plans to add four feet to most aisles in order to accommodate an increased selection of dry foods. Baribeau expects the renovations, all of which have been contracted locally, to be completed by the end of the month. There are plans to offer a coffee service in the deli area at some point in the future. The snack bar, which served up soup, sandwiches and, of course, snacks, lost $16,954 in 2002; $23,099 in 2001; and $24,447 in 2000. Much like the unprofitable general merchandise department, the snack bar had remained open as a service to the Co-op membership. 'Key tenant' Meanwhile, Baribeau is in talks with "a key tenant" interested in leasing more than half of the Co-op's lower level, vacated last year when the general merchandise department closed. "Every day, it seems like we get a little closer to leasing out that space," said the general manager. "It looks a lot more positive today than it did in September." Baribeau is not at liberty to name the tenant at this time, but said it is interested in leasing some 8,000 of the roughly 13,000 sq. ft. available on the lower level. The store has heard from a number of other potential tenants but Baribeau wants to sign a lease agreement with the major tenant before concluding those discussions.
