BusinessNorth recently featured Widseth in an article about our role in designing a new community grocery store. Read more about it below!
The Free Range Food Co-op (FRFC) announces Widseth Architects and Seven Roots have been selected to lead the pre-construction design for its new grocery store in Grand Rapids. This partnership marks a pivotal milestone in the co-op’s journey to create a community-owned, sustainable marketplace.
Widseth Architects of Hibbing will deliver comprehensive architectural services, while Seven Roots — national experts in grocery store planning and design — bring decades of specialized experience to the project, developers said. Both firms stood out to the FRFC Site Development Team for their proven track records, dedication to community involvement, and alignment with the co-op’s core mission of fostering local, organic food access.
“Free Range Food Co-op’s focus on community truly sets it apart,” said Ashley Martel, architect at Widseth. “We are honored to collaborate with an organization that not only values sustainability and local engagement but is also committed to enriching Grand Rapids. Our team looks forward to designing a space that invites the community to share in this vision.”
Heather Lazickas, project manager at Seven Roots, added, “We have admired Free Range Food Co-op’s journey for years and are thrilled to help turn their dream into reality. Our extensive experience in co-op grocery design uniquely positions us to support this transformative project — and we can’t wait to share a fantastic co-op lunch in Grand Rapids someday!”
Brandon Otway, Board Chair of the Free Range Food Co-op, expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration. “We are excited to move forward with Widseth and Seven Roots for the design of our store. With extensive experience in co-op grocery projects and a deep commitment to inclusivity, both firms resonated with our vision. Their promise to engage all 1,200+ co-op owners and the broader community during the design process reassures us that our new store will truly reflect our collective values.”
Community engagement opportunity
In keeping with its commitment to community-driven development, FRFC will host a community engagement session on Feb. 27 from 5-7 pm at the Timberlake Lodge in Grand Rapids to gather input on the store’s design. Additional details regarding the session will be announced shortly.
Learn more and get involved
For further information about Free Range Food Co-op and opportunities to contribute to this project, please visit www.freerangefood.coop.
Free Range Food Co-op
Free Range Food Co-op is a locally owned grocery store in Grand Rapids driven by 1,211 co-op members committed to community well-being. Built by the community, for the community, FRFC provides access to local, organic foods and goods while fostering a sustainable and inclusive local economy. To learn more or become an owner, visit www.freerangefood.coop or email to freerangefoodcoop@gmail.com.
This article was originally published by BusinessNorth. Read the full article here.
