On Saturday, Oct. 9, the Lovettsville Cooperative Market held an interactive groundbreaking at the future site of its community-owned grocery store. The store has been years in the making and will be located in Lovettsville Town Commons, right off the Squirkle in downtown Lovettsville.
The celebration followed a lengthy capital raising campaign and membership drive, which culminated with a lease agreement in January 2021. The future grocery store will occupy 7,000 square feet of space on the 2.6-acre lot, with an option to purchase the land in the future. This marks the first modern grocery store in Western Loudoun, open seven days per week to members and non-members alike, and will feature 75% locally sourced, natural or organic produce whenever possible
The store will also feature a deli and prepared meals, as well as a selection of local craft beers and farm-fresh wines.
Participating Loudoun farm vendors and rural businesses include:
- Snickers Run Farm;
- Long Stone Farm;
- Georges Mill Farm Artisan Cheese;
- Parsonage Soap;
- Greenstone Fields;
- The Dinner Belle’s Kitchen and Catering;
- Hanging Rock Hay and Grain;
- Walsh Family Wines.
The event on Saturday also attracted 25 new member-owners, raising the total to 766, including members from Eastern Loudoun and Maryland.
The total cost of opening the new store is estimated to be a little more than $2.6 million. Approximately half of this is for leasehold improvements (buildout cost), equipment, and a project overrun allowance. Other pre-opening expenses include professional fees (e.g. legal, design, co-op consultants), personnel, inventory and other lesser expenses.
Eco Developers will build the grocery co-op as the anchor for this new section, which includes two other buildings of approximately 17,000 square feet. The goal is to have all construction completed and the store opening in the third quarter of 2022.
The Lovettsville Cooperative Market is also excited to be part of the 2021 Loudoun Fall Farm Tour, offering an immersive apiary experience. Join them this weekend, October 16-17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., to see the bee observation hive from Potomac Point Apiary, purchase honey, enjoy free goodies and kids activities.
