You can forgive Chris Bauman these days when she tells you through her upbeat, energetic voice that she's actually exhausted.
The president of the board of Lumby's Monashee Community Co-op has been overseeing, helping, directing, packing, and taking calls from reporters in the midst of the co-op community market's move to a new facility.
"There's been a lot of unanticipated costs, building code upgrades, and we wonder if we've opened a real Pandora's box.That's why I'm exhausted," chuckled Bauman in a phone interview.
After almost 11 years at its Shuswap Avenue location in the strip mall behind Jitter Beans – a facility it outgrew two years ago, said Bauman – the market will move to a new, more-than-double-the-size home in the Arbour Mall beside Dollar Dollar Lumby.
Monashee Community Co-op Community Market is a retail member-owned store where anyone can shop and/or become a member/owner.
The market is staffed by caring and dedicated volunteers who work to ensure the products are ethically and environmentally responsible, and local when possible.
The store carries a wide array of grocery staples and specializes in local, organic, vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO food, including fruits, vegetables, meat and fish, dairy products and non-dairy options, healthy junk food and frozen desserts, baked goods and more.
"We had 1,400 square feet at the old place and we had to negotiate with Westland Insurance, because we were desperate for space, so we got 200 square feet from them last year, and that filled up immediately," said Bauman. "Sales jumped. Membership jumped. And then this (new building) became available.
"The new building is 3,600 square feet. It's a very exciting time."
Volunteers have been helping to renovate the new location, and moving things over from the old location. All the talk around the village about the move has been positive, save for the costs. The co-op under-budgeted.
No problem.
"Our unspoken motto is, 'We'll figure it out,'" said Bauman. "If we don't see a way forward on anything, something will happen that will make it known. People are pretty excited about the move. Lots of folks have been coming by, popping their heads in. People are really engaged."
That includes volunteers.
The market bought some shelving from a Salmon Arm business. Two volunteer men drove to the Shuswap to pick it up, and another eight people helped install the shelving at the Arbour Mall.
"People have really been stepping up," said Bauman. "I think, this month (June) we've had about 2,000 volunteer hours. It's been insane."
The goal is to be open in the new facility Thursday, June 26, but Bauman won't commit to that date.
The current facility on Shuswap Avenue is open until Saturday, June 21, and Bauman anticipates the following four days to be used for transitioning to the new building.
"But there are no guarantees," she said. "There have been so many hiccups and unexpected delays."
Monashee Community Co-op Community Market must be out of its present location by the end of June, but the board wants to clean up the old facility and do some remedial work to make it nice for the next tenant.
A grand opening for the new facility is expected to be held in late July.
To help with associated moving costs, the co-op is hosting July Fest, a dinner/dance fundraiser Saturday, July 5, at Timber Ridge Trails on Kirby Road.
Dinner will be an authentic three-course schnitzel meal. Dancing will be to the music of the Rocking Horse Band. There will also be a silent auction.
Tickets are available by calling 250-309-1276.
