Not Going Anywhere! Los Alamos Co

Consultant John Mabbott at the Los Alamos Co-op Wednesday at 95 Entrada Drive. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

By CAROL A. CLARKLos Alamos Daily Post"The rumor of my death was a great exaggeration" ~ Mark Twain The Los Alamos Cooperative Market membership is unwavering in its commitment to remain "The Heart of the Community at the Edge of Town". Its new board brought in consultant John Mabbott from Seattle whose nationwide expertise is reviving struggling co-ops.

"Every place I've fixed is different and the Los Alamos Food Co-op is no exception," Mabbott told the Los Alamos Daily Post during an onsite interview Wednesday. "I walked around here and thought at least 95 percent of natural food stores in the country would give a limb to look like this store. This place is beautiful! ... So what's wrong?"

Mabbott explained that Co-operative Director Bill Deal had reached out to him about the Los Alamos Co-op's struggles and he contacted then Board President Joshua Faulconer. Mabbott committed to work with the board, staff and members to right the ship. He will be at the store through July 8 and return for a week every month until the Co-op is thriving.

Mabbott entered the grocery store business in 1979 at Safeway. He moved over to the co-op world in 1989 and owned his own successful store in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle before being approached to fix co-ops across the country that needed guidance.

He sees a bright future for the Los Alamos Co-op. "I'm here, this is what I do, and our very best days are ahead!"

"Our message is engagement. We are here and we are owned by people here. Yes, there is distance between our store and our customers, we will close that distance by being approachable, affordable and engaging," Mabbott said. "Despite recent changes at the top, this co-op is extremely well run and spirits are high!"

Everyone can shop at the Los Alamos Co-op at 95 Entrada Drive whether members or not. The store's mission is to serve Los Alamos County and surrounding communities by providing fairly priced, wholesome foods and other goods in an ecologically sustainable, socially responsible, and economically appropriate manner.

Los Alamos Food Co-op strives to:

Emphasize food for people, not for profitMaintain a high standard of quality productsFoster the development of northern New Mexican growers and vendorsEmploy a democratic and member-owner cooperativePromote ethical practices, participation, and community empowermentWork to encourage and implement appropriate environmental practicesPromote awareness about food, nutrition, health, and cooperative valuesBe responsive and accountable to the community we serve Store hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.