Your co-op loves to try new things. And, we’re proud to be one of the first stores around to offer some of grocery’s most exciting and innovative new products. Each month, we bring in a variety of food, drinks, supplements and body care items. Get to know what’s new this month!
From the General Manager: Introducing our new Operations Director, Mainstreet Credit Union closing their location in the Lawrence store, the impact of tariffs, and more.
The Merc Co+op is excited to announce the recipients of the 2025 Change for our Community program. “Change” gives shoppers the opportunity to donate their spare change to local organizations every time they shop. Each month, a different organization is featured as the recipient, and 100% of all donations collected go to that specific organization.
Since the program began in January 2014, we have raised over $700,000 for local nonprofits.
The Merc Co+op is celebrating 50 years in grocery this fall and, and we hope you join us for the festivities coming up, which include our Board of Directors serving cake this Saturday in Lawrence and Sunday in KCK, local and Fair-Trade samples, and an open house event at the Watkins Museum of History. While looking back at the evolution of our co-op through the years, we also look ahead at the current changes underway. As we gear up for the holiday season, we’re excited to share updates on the final phases of our renovation project and the installation of our new coolers.
The Merc Co+op's Board of Directors is comprised of nine co-op owners who are elected by the general ownership and serve a three-year term. Any co-op owner can run for a board position. Participating in co-op elections is your ownership in action – get to know the owners who represent you! Meet Barbara Clark.
In an effort to encourage social distancing, your co-op’s Board of Directors will meet virtually on Monday, April 6 at 6:00 p.m. In the absence of an in-person meeting, the board is inviting interested owners who wish to join in virtually to contact Anthony Lang, Board President, at board@themerc.coop by noon on Sunday, April 5.
In an effort to better serve our greater community, your co-op is implementing the following temporary service changes.
Effective immediately, we will temporarily suspend special orders of all kind.
We will not allow any holds on items of any kind at this time.
We will implement limits on high demand items such as toilet paper and rubbing alcohol.
The health and safety of our co-op community remains our highest priority. We thank you, in advance, for your understanding.
In an abundance of caution, your co-op has decided to suspend hot bar and salad bar service to devote production time to packaged prepared foods. In addition, cafe seating will be reduced to half capacity to better align with the Health Department and CDC’s recommendation on keeping distance between people/parties.
Our top priority is ensuring the health and safety of our staff, members, shoppers and class attendees. In the interest of our community, and based on decisions made by other local and national organizations regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19), we have decided to cancel all remaining cooking and community classes scheduled for this month.
You co-op will testify in support of HB 2401 - a bill that would lower the quorum for food co-ops in Kansas. The bill will be presented at a hearing in the House Federal and State Affairs committee on Thursday, January 23 at 9:00 a.m. Former co-op board member and current Representative Boog Highberger is responsible for introducing the bill - first in March 2019. He, alongside KU Professor Edwin Hecker and the co-op’s Marketing Director, Valerie Taylor Richardson, will testify.
Next summer we will be one co-op with three locations! After 45 years of making good local food available in Lawrence, Kansas at our store at 9th and Iowa and our Co+op Cafe at the Lawrence Public Library, we are excited to open our downtown Kansas City, Kansas location! Even though it's cold outside, there is significant progress being made on the construction of the store.
The Merc Co+op is excited to announce the recipients of the 2020 Change for our Community program. Our Change program gives shoppers the opportunity to donate their pocket change to local community organizations each time they shop. Each month, The Merc Co+op chooses a different Change recipient and all donations collected that month go to that specific organization.
Teri Grunthaner
Emily Henry
The Merc Co+op’s Class Program aims to offer affordable learning experiences that promote fresh, local, sustainable and wholesome foods and food systems, as well as health and wellness.
We’ve added six class presenters this year, bringing you new cooking and lifestyle inspiration! Check out all our upcoming classes at www.themerc.coop/classes.
Teri Grunthaner
Teri is an Expressive Therapist with a private practice here in Lawrence. She has spent over a decade studying, practicing, and facilitating healthy relationship dynamics in her personal life and therapeutic practice. Her lighthearted approach to difficult topics draws from Nonviolent Communication, mindfulness, and action-oriented, expressive art therapies.
Upcoming Classes:
Monday, February 17th - Cooperative Skills: How to Give a Meaningful Apology
Monday, March 23rd - Cooperative Skills: Confront Conflict Compassionately
Emily Henry
Emily Henry is the owner and operator of The Bap Stop, a food truck serving Korean rice bowls and cuisine. A long-time cook and foodie, she has been gluten-free since 2009 and is passionate about recreating recipes and dishes to be accessible for all. She believes that food is a powerful force that can unite people of all generations, cultures, and backgrounds, and her culinary hero is Anthony Bourdain. She lives in Lawrence, KS, with her husband, their son, and their cat, Betty.
Upcoming Classes:
Tuesday, March 3rd - Not yet posted, keep an eye on the website!
This year Community Mercantile Education Foundation (CMEF) celebrates its 20th anniversary as the non-profit sister organization of The Merc Co+op. CMEF’s direction for the future is to grow more healing food for the people who need it most, and to continue to develop youth leaders dedicated to service.
To do good, we have to do well. The Merc Co+op's annual Impact Reports are published every November. Each report is a comprehensive review on the co-op's activities throughout the preceding year. Impact Reports are intended to give shareholders and other interested people information about our activities and performance as a business.
