They are huge now. When I was a member back in the very early 80s, was a smallish old storefront-like place - like they took over someone's house. Willy St. was pretty residential for most of the length of the street. They had some awesome block parties back then, especially the annual event they had.

Hope whatever they choose to do is good for everyone.

I thought I was going crazy, but I remember that, too.

I think it was a blue house more to the north end of that neighborhood-the Willy Street community area that is. The street continued north but it was like a different neighborhood after a couple more blocks.

Then there was another coop store a couple blocks from the capitol square (SE of the square) in what I recall was definitely a blue house. Don't know if it was just another location for the WSC but it was nice. But then, Madison was seeming to revive the "corner market" model because there was a pretty good little store on Lakeside (St., Ave?) where I could get awesome produce and organic foods and coffee.

Those were the days, too bad they didn't last very long, at least for me. I liked it there but it was also hard to find work.

little industry. I, too, needed work, and it wasn't happening for me there either. Wonderful place to live as a student, particularly in summer.

As I recall, that other coop in the blue house was near the Howard Johnson, right? Anyway, thanks for the fun discussion.

I've been to one of the locations. Not sure which.

edit: Not sure how they do, business-wise. Must be okay, as they've opened another location in recent years. But they have to be hurt by Whole Foods & Trader Joe's.

Willie Street!

as the DLC does like Democrats.

Not much of a coop if all employees aren't owners and making decisions - just a marketing scheme.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochdale_Principles

Willy St. Co-op. She shopped there a lot. If you remember, we at DU sent them money during the occupation of the Capitol in Madison. They provided food, water bottles and other beverages to the demonstrators.

Used to be one room, as I recall, with lots of those barrell-type containers with granola and wheat germ and stuff. And flyers posted outside.

But on-topic, even in the 80's, that part of Madison was expensive and overpriced, and I think it likely that local businesses have succumbed to the temptation to raise profits on the backs of their workers. Which is ironic given the very history of the co-op.

see are nonprofit. I think Willy Street is one of the early members of the national Co Op network. There's one that I go to sometimes, it's 100 miles from me but when I have to go to the nearest city to go shopping I usually buy stuff there. Don't keep a membership but I will shop there anyway. Don't go there often enough for the dues to be worth it, they usually have what I'm looking for and then some.

On another note, I haven't seen a house -like Co Op in years, all that I have been to in recent years are all in grocery store type buildings anymore and are much larger than they were back in the 80s and 90s.

The other cool thing that I liked about Madison were the activists. Due to the horrid rental spikes, especially after the Cubans from the Muriel boat lift folks started being released... Many glommed to the cities and it became very unsafe. But the Willy Street Community (I think I still have one of the first Willy Street Fair shirts!) organized and came up with housing Co Ops. Groups of people living in those multi-unit houses actually bought them and made improvement and repair decisions together. Those are the cool things I remember from my years of living there. That and the local radio stations... Back Porch Radio!

On the terrace - and who made mint chip ice cream before UW did, huh?? Tell me...