Twenty-five years ago who would have thought the Willy Street Co-op would grow to be as large as it is today? Way back those so many years ago in 1974, Willy Street Co-op was a small, cramped grocery store that shared its space with Nature's Bakery at 1101 Williamson Street. The Co-op's inventory was very limited and consisted mostly of produce which was, as it is today, the best in town.

In August 1974, Willy Street Co-op signed a lease to rent 1014 Williamson. With 900 square feet of retail space and a small amount of storage area, this new location allowed Willy Street Co-op to offer expanded selections of bulk goods, produce and a limited amount of packaged goods and convenience items. From the very start, the Co-op's goal was to provide natural foods and products for the neighborhood it served.

Willy Street Co-op's grow in popularity and sales over the next 10 years. The store at1014 Williamson St. soon became unable to meet the needs of the Co-op's members and the hunt for a new site was on. By September of 1977, the Co-op signed a new lease for 1202 Williamson which has been our home the last 22 years. The site effectively doubled the Co-op's retail space and allowed for increased storage and office space. It also allowed for the addition of frozen meat and fish, ethnic foods, convenience items, health and beauty products, and bulk bins to the Co-op's inventory.

Continued growth in sales and inventory grew the need for additional staff. Originally a collective where all employees shared in the decision making process on matters concerning Willy Street Co-op, this system proved to be very problematic. Reach a consensus would hold up proposals for indefinite periods of time; poorly defined jobs with little accountability allowed for work to be left undone which created new tensions between staff members; and in early 1980, Willy Street Co-op lost money for the first time in its history. In September of 1982, a restructuring process was finalized for working conditions, pay and benefit policies, decision making authority, and all positions, including one for Willy Street Co-op's first general manager, Ann Graham.

By 1983, membership was at 4000, sales continued growing and the Board of Directors and general manager saw that the Co-op was once again outgrowing its location. An early1984 member bond drive raised $20,000 to help support a move into Clyde's Appliance Store, which had shared the corner building with Willy Street Co-op. One of the bright spots of the expansion included the formation of the Willy Street Co-op Deli.

The 1990's brought continued growth, a new general manager, and a decision to purchase the building. In 1999, the expansion continued and a new site for Willy Street Co-op opened on October 21, 1999. Inside the Co-op you will find everything members wanted in a new store including our newest additions: juice and self-serve salad bars, fresh meat and seafood, expanded frozen foods, vitamins and supplements, and a huge deli with hot take out items and a place to sit down, relax and eat as well. Got children? No problem. Willy Street Co-op has always been kid-friendly and will still be with our deluxe children's play area.

Every bit of the old Willy Street Co-op will still be with us as we move (except some of the old outdated coolers and shelves). Willy Street Co-op will still strive to be an anchor serving Madison as a full service grocery cooperative while specializing in natural and organic foods. 7000 members and growing!

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