Timeline
2021
We’re Hiring!
Things are really picking up momentum now as we expand our Gem City Market team! We’re looking for dedicated, community-oriented servant leaders to grow with us and achieve our mission: To serve, engage, and empower our neighborhoods by providing affordable, high quality food in a clean and welcoming environment that is worker and community owned. We are currently accepting applications for: Culinary Manager Data and POS Coordinator Administrative and Engagement Coordinator Outreach Coordinator Sound like someone you know? Share and apply! (Department Leads and cross-trained entry positions will be in future rounds of hiring. Stay tuned!) https://gemcitymarketcooperative.easyapply.co/
3,200+ Member-Owners!
We can mark the milestone of reaching over 50% Trade Area Zip Code Membership! We are more than 3,200 community member-owners strong.
2020
Construction Update!
Construction Photos!
More photos of the materials and supplies being transformed into our grocery co-op!
Construction Photos
Construction photos from the site on 09-22-2020
2,766 Member-Owners!
We have over 2,766 Community-Owners. 1,277 reside within the Trade Area Zip Codes, and 193 of those are $10 Memberships.
Construction at the site! Almost enclosed!
Our architect Matt Sauer visits the site regularly and sends photos on . . . so much action on the site!
Let’s Eat: A child’s view of Gem City Market
Students from both Edison School and Dayton Leadership academy were asked to envision a trip to the market or what they think a grocery should look like: the people or aisles, the produce, or employees. With three drawings from both schools, alongside photography from Jennings, artwork from Oyeyemi, and architectural drawings of the completed Gem City Market, these 10 large format banners are intended to inspire the community along the high traffic Salem corridor. “Even through the process of fundraising and getting the ground broken on this project we’re already seeing a movement in our community,” Kenya Baker, Gem City..Read More
2,700 Community Member-Owners
We have over 2,700 Community-Owners. 1,227 reside within the Trade Area Zip Codes, and 182 of those are $10 Memberships.
Steel! (Click here for larger photos)
We can see the building start to take on shape and form with the steel being placed!
Time-lapse video of concrete pour
Click to watch: The walls to the front (with the wood forms) are the retaining walls for the raised outside deck area. The flat pours (concrete level with the ground) are the footers. There is another area at the rear of the lot that is the retaining wall for the delivery dock. Foundations will be block and hopefully will start in the next week or two. All drains and catch basins for the parking lot has also been installed(doesn’t show in the video because they are buried but that work has also been accomplished).
Announcement: Annual Members Meeting Postponed
The Board has voted to postpone the Annual Members Meeting until such time as it is safe to gather publicly in groups; potentially late summer or early autumn. While physically distancing amid COVID-19 presents challenges for movement building, we are committed building relationships between member-owners, and transparently sharing project information. In lieu of physical community meetings, we are working on alternate ways to stay in touch! We’d love to know what you’ve seen working well in your recent new experiences. Visit our Contact Us page.
GCM goes to Up & Coming
In early March 2020, a group of Gem City Market Member-Owners attended the Up & Coming Food Co-op Conference, in Madison Wisconsin. Up & Coming attracts start-up organizing groups, board members, and co-op staff from around the country to learn and grow together. This year the conference was in Madison, WI on Mar 6-7, 2020. Programming was 2 days with over 55 workshops presented by 50+ speakers, both consultants and peers. Our own Amaha Sellassie, Kenya Baker, and Lela Klein presented, attending their 3rd Up & Coming to-date. With their costs covered by the conference organizers for presenting, CO-OP Dayton was able..Read More
2019
2,400 Community-Owners
We have over 2,400 Community-Owners. 1,054 reside within the Trade Area, and 125 of those are $10 Memberships.
Grading the site and Earthwork
Site work is moving forward. The construction of essential businesses like grocery stores is allowed during the stay-at-home order. Our General Contractor WISE Construction is taking necessary precautions for the health of all workers on the site, including installing additional hand-washing stations on-site, and confirming the absence of symptoms when workers report on-site. It’s been a mild, but WET winter which poses its own challenges. We continue to find unforeseen conditions under the ground. Pockets of old construction debris need to be excavated and replaced with suitable fill material. Further delays are likely, but we will continue to move forward..Read More
2nd Annual Members Meeting
We transitioned an appointed board seat to our third Community Elected Board Seat. Member and Trade Area resident Shavelta Harding was voted in. Jule Rastiskis, who held an appointed board seat stepped down. This rounds out the board to 9 members. The membership also voted yes on whether to pursue the sale of alcohol ( beer and wine ) by petitioning the precinct, and developing a responsible alcohol sales policy.
Community Partnership: Premier Health Announces Neighborhood 50/50 Match @ Community Meeting
Premier Health has contributed funds allowing Gem City Market to offer $50 Community-Owner Membership Shares to individuals living in the market neighborhood zip codes of: 45402, 05, 06, 16, 17, 26. We have a goal of 1,800 Trade Area Members by open. Before the match was announced, our Trade Area membership was at 743 members.
Deep Listening Campaign Kick-Off @ Community Meeting
We have a goal of welcoming 600 new $10 Members living in our Trade Area (zip codes 45402, 05, 06, 16, 17, 26) before opening our doors. You can support this goal by joining our team as we get out knocking on doors to talk with residents about the new grocery store coming to the neighborhood. For me information email: Kenya Baker [email protected]
Ceremonial Community Groundbreaking @ Annual Block Party
We estimate 500 – 700 members and supporters joined us for our Ceremonial Community Groundbreaking. Burgers were grilled, booths were visited, connections were made. We collected nearly 50 grocery receipts, the best way to find out what you really want to buy and cook, to help us stock our shelves smartly! Over 40 individuals made the decision to join the cooperative as a community-owner. We collected over $800 in Supporter Equity (and CO-OP Dayton gave out over 50 t-shirt thank yous!) About 50 individuals volunteered (receiving potluck dishes, serving food, supporting the grill masters, grilling, and stepping in where ever..Read More
GCM Contracts with Firebrand for Brand Refresh and Retail Rollout
Firebrand, a marketing agency cooperative with extensive experience in food co-op start-ups has been chosen to create the new logo and branding for Gem City Market.