Coming Soon: Expanded Keweenaw Co-op in Hancock
The Co-op's move downtown signifies a major step, not only for the business itself but also for the surrounding area. Despite delays, Co-op officials say construction is back on track.
Despite delays, the wait is nearly over for the Keweenaw Co-op's much-anticipated move to downtown Hancock. The new location, slated to open later this year, will offer customers a significantly enhanced shopping experience with nearly double the retail space and a wider selection at the deli.
Curt Webb, Keweenaw Co-op’s General Manager, checks the status of the Co-op build on May 18. Photo by Denise Hansen.
The Co-op has received overwhelming community support, with more than $1 million raised, but that hasn’t stopped the project from facing significant delays. The construction has faced challenges due to unforeseen circumstances, including supply shortages in the wake of the pandemic and changes in state elevator regulations. Those regulation changes required a mid-project reconfiguration of the elevator design that set the project back months. Now, the problems have been ironed out, and the construction is back on track.
HVAC work is underway in the Co-op’s new retail space. Photo by Denise Hansen.
“We understand the responsibility ahead of us to make sure it works to provide food access to everyone in the Keweenaw,” said Denise Hansen, sales and operations manager at the Co-op. “That’s what we do.”
Produce enthusiasts will be greeted by a prominent section showcasing fresh fruits, vegetables, and even flowers as soon as they enter the store.
“We’re doing what we do best, and we’re doing more of it,” Hansen said
An open kitchen will allow customers to witness the preparation of pizzas, sandwiches and more firsthand, emphasizing the focus on fresh and healthy offerings. The expanded deli section caters to those seeking quick and convenient meal options.
“We are the place people come for sandwiches,” Hansen said.
The deli will feature a wider selection, including custom orders, hot and cold pizza, pre-made salads, and bowls. Kombucha will be on tap alongside coffee and cold beverages.
Seating will also be significantly increased, with 30 seats inside at tables and window counter stools. During warmer months, additional outdoor seating will be available. Parking will improve as well, with the new location offering 50 dedicated spots, including three handicapped spaces, compared to the current store's roughly eight off-street parking spaces.
The new facility will also significantly improve working conditions for employees. A dedicated loading dock for receiving shipments is one thing the co-op has never had before.
Other improvements include a more efficient, unified kitchen location, walk-in sales coolers and a more private break space. The new coolers for drinks, dairy, and other products allow employees to stock from the rear rather than being in the aisle. Not having the store spread across three floors will also make a big difference for the workers, according to Hansen.
The Co-op's move downtown signifies a major step, not only for the business itself but also for the surrounding area. Co-op officials believe the new location will be transformative.
“We are very fortunate to have found a location that works for the business as well as the community,” Hansen said, noting the proximity to businesses for walking lunches and the revitalization of a previously unused space.
The increased visibility from nearby highway traffic is expected to benefit the business, and the easy access and convenient location compared to the current store situated outside the city center are seen as advantages.
“We’ll be the first grocery store off the bridge,” Hansen pointed out.
The new store will be at 610 Quincy Street in Hancock.
Editor’s note: This article was modified after posting to include the Co-op’s new address.
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Can wild rice rebound in the Keweenaw?
Manoomin, wild rice in the Ojibwa language, is not a crop, but a living being with a deep spiritual, historical and cultural meaning to the people who first settled in the Great Lakes region.
For a living being to grow and thrive, it must have the right conditions. This sounds basic, but at times it is hard to achieve in our modern world. Manoomin, wild rice in the Ojibwa language, is not a crop, but a living being with a deep spiritual, historical and cultural meaning to the people who first settled in the Great Lakes region.
Wild rice growing in a lake. Photo courtesy Roz Hawley, Getty Images.
Starting in the early to mid-1900s, Mamoonin (“the food that grows on the water”) became increasingly scarce due to the impact of conventional farming, mining extraction, and deforestation. Wild rice needs clean, shallow, slow-moving water, most of which were lost to the new industrial demands. Wild rice is also a food source that is not harvested once; the entire crop doesn’t mature at one time but rather must be harvested multiple times throughout the harvest season. It’s popular to talk of “slow food” currently.
Watching Manoomin being traditionally harvested by canoe—slowly moving through the tall grass, hearing the rhythmic “clack,” “clack” of the harvest sticks and the murmured “miigwech,” “miigwech” (“thank you,” “thank you”) from the harvester as the seed heads that are ripe fall into the boat—reconnects us to the sacred nature of land and food.
Cassandra Reed-VanDam, who was interviewed for this article, completed her master’s thesis on working with KBIC (Keweenaw Bay Indian Community) on their wild rice restoration guidance document.
Processing wild rice at the 2023 KBIC Manoomin Camp. Photo courtesy Cassandra Reed-Van Dam.
“The focus is not just planting seeds, but most importantly, the cultural practices,” VanDam explained. Not a tribal member herself, she described her experiences working alongside tribal members on behalf of the rice as “humbling, and inspiring, and welcoming.” A reminder that when we meet each other with respect, an open mind, and a willingness to learn, more than rice seeds are planted. In fact, every Fall, KBIC holds Mamoonin Camp, and all are welcome to attend. There are a great many resources available online for a deeper dive into wild rice and other indigenous foods, including KBIC’s website.
For everyone who loves the U.P. there are also small ways we can participate in helping Manoomin as we go about our days. Here are just a few:
Think about the water surrounding you as a living being worthy of protection. The People of the Heart Water Walk is a powerful way to reconnect with the water as a sacred source of life and not a natural resource.
If you enjoy boating on Lake Superior or any inland lakes, be aware that what might just look like grass could be a bed of wild rice struggling to gain hold. Avoid disrupting such stands of grass and slowly pass to avoid large waves in your wake.
If you are someone with waterfront property that you think could sustain wild rice, be sure to check with the KBIC Natural Resources Department to ensure the seed you obtain is the right type for our area. Some wild rice on the market is commercially developed and GMO modified and could do more harm than good to the local strains.
If you want an in-depth look at the long-term plan for remediation you can download the Keweenaw Bay Hazard Remediation Plan here. While some challenges to reviving wild rice in the Keweenaw are caused by global climate changes that we cannot control from a local vantage point, how we choose to live on and with the land and water surrounding us is vital to all of our well-being.