MMFC Eau Claire store to open Oct. 11

Menomonie Market Food Co-op has announced a tentative opening date of Oct. 11 for their new store in Eau Claire. 

The opening date is exactly one year from the groundbreaking ceremony for the store.

When MMFC merged with the former Just Local Food Co-op in 2021 after both ownerships voted overwhelmingly in favor, plans to build an expanded Eau Claire location on the property known as “Block 7” were immediately announced. Over the next six months, the co-op worked with the Redevelopment Authority and City of Eau Claire to get its building plans approved and secure a purchase agreement, and it began raising funds through the sale of investments to co-op owners in June 2022. Four months later, MMFC reached its goal for owner investments, secured financing, and broke ground. Now, local contractor Market & Johnson is currently on track to complete the new 14,000 sq. ft. standalone grocery store by September, putting the project on schedule for an October 11th opening date. 

“It’s very exciting to be at a transition point in our construction timeline,” explains MMFC General Manager Crystal Halvorson. “It seems rare in this day and age to finish a project on time and on budget, but that’s where we find ourselves thanks to excellent design and construction work! Now we turn toward what must happen inside the building and on our team to be ready for opening day. We’ll be spending the next several weeks unpacking equipment, hiring lots of new people, and placing our biggest orders ever from local partners, all so we can build a family around good food to be ready for our owners and customers in October.”

Currently an opening ceremony for the store is scheduled for 11:00 AM on October 11, and an official grand opening celebration for Saturday, Nov. 4 where all co-op owners will be invited to the store for the co-op's annual meeting. 

The cooperative is currently hiring for varied positions at the new store. You may apply in person or at mmfc.coop/careers.