Portland's supermarket scene is about to get a new competitor. By early 2015, the Portland Food Co-op intends to open a grocery store in downtown Portland, a district dominated by Whole Foods, Hannaford and Trader Joe's.
The business plan calls for a much smaller store than the ones operated by the large chains, but with a full offering of organic and natural groceries, including beer, wine and prepared foods. The store will emphasize locally grown and produced food.
"We're looking for a space on or right near the peninsula in Portland," said Rachelle Curran Apse, the co-op board member who is managing the opening of the store. "We want car, bus, foot and bike access, and for it to be close to the highway. Something similar in size to the old Whole Grocer."
Apse said the co-op is actively looking for a location with up to 10,000 square feet of space, which is similar in size to Lois' Natural Marketplace in Scarborough, Royal River Natural Foods in Freeport and the former Whole Grocer, a locally owned health food store bought and shuttered by Whole Foods when it moved to town in 2007. The Whole Grocer's employees were all transferred to the new store.
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