A grass-roots effort to open a food co-op in Robbinsdale is underway after the city's only grocery store closed in April.

More than 150 people met at a Robbinsdale church in late June to discuss the potential for one in the wake of Rainbow Foods' departure.

Attending the meeting were Robbinsdale Mayor Regan Murphy, City Council Member Pat Backen and Katya Pilling from the Landon Group, a St. Paul consulting firm hired by Robbinsdale.

About 20 people signed up to be on a citizen-run steering committee dedicated to the cause, which will be formalized at an Aug. 12 meeting.

And nearly 60 people attended a follow-up meeting on July 1, where groups signed up to staff booths at four summer festivals in the area to build support in surrounding communities.

For more information, go to www.robbinsdalefoodcoop.org.

STAFF REPORT