Weavers Way Co-op
Encyclopedia
Weavers Way Co-op is a member-owned consumer's cooperative in Philadelphia's West Mt. Airy
section. Founded in 1973, Weavers Way Co-op was formed as a neighborhood buying club in a church basement. Since its incorporation, it has grown to 5,000 member households, with annual sales of more than $14 million. After moving to its location at 559 Carpenter Lane, Weavers Way expanded, purchasing the adjacent building and consolidating the two buildings. Subsequent expansions included the purchase of two buildings across the street, which include a retail pet supply store, offices, meeting space, and a residential rental unit. Weavers Way has recently expanded with two new stores in northwest Philadelphia, as well an additional building for administrative offices. The larger of the two new stores is located at 8418 Germantown Ave, at the former Caruso's grocery store site, the smaller store is located in West Oak Lane section of Philadelphia. There is also a warehouse several miles away in East Germantown
. Weavers Way has participated in such events and organizations as Mt. Airy Day, Mt. Airy ArtJam, Mt. Airy YouthWorks, Mt. Airy Business Association, and Mt. Airy USA (MAUSA).
, the African Children's Fund, AIDS, Philabundance and the HEIFER project. The program started with the C. W. Henry School across the street and has since expanded to include five schools. Other educational programs include WWCP's Farm Education programs, which take place on three of Weavers Way's four urban farms located in Northwest Philadelphia: Mort Brooks Memorial Farm at Awbury Arboretum, Hope Garden at Stenton Family Manor, and Henry Got Crops! community supported agriculture (CSA) farm at Saul Agricultural High School.
The Mort Brooks Memorial Organic Farm was Weavers Way's first farm, an urban intensive organic farm a few miles from Weavers Way at Awbury Arboretum in Germantown. Named after a member who was instrumental to the Co-op’s early success, the Mort Brooks Memorial Farm was founded in 2000, in large part due to the efforts of Mort's widow, Norma Brooks. In 2007, Weavers Way moved to transform the mostly volunteer run farm into a productive farm with a structured educational program, with a full time horticulturalist and a farm educator. Since then, the farm program has grown to include several acres at the current four farm locations (the fourth being a strictly production plot located in East Mt. Airy), with two full time farmers, two farm educators, as well as several apprentices and interns. Hundreds of students come through the farm's education programs each year.
) near Ogontz Avenue, a major thoroughfare. A second store was opened in 2010 in Chestnut Hill
, in the location of the former Caruso's Market at 8424 Germantown Avenue. In September, 2011, Weavers Way transferred ownership of the West Oak Lane store to the Ogontz Avenue Revitalization Coporation (OARC), which announced plans to reopen the store as a non-cooperative community market.
Mount Airy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mount Airy is a neighborhood of Northwest Philadelphia in the state of Pennsylvania.-Boundaries:Mount Airy is bounded on the northwest by the Cresheim Valley, which is part of Fairmount Park. Beyond this lies Chestnut Hill. On the west side is the Wissahickon Gorge, which is also part of Fairmount...
section. Founded in 1973, Weavers Way Co-op was formed as a neighborhood buying club in a church basement. Since its incorporation, it has grown to 5,000 member households, with annual sales of more than $14 million. After moving to its location at 559 Carpenter Lane, Weavers Way expanded, purchasing the adjacent building and consolidating the two buildings. Subsequent expansions included the purchase of two buildings across the street, which include a retail pet supply store, offices, meeting space, and a residential rental unit. Weavers Way has recently expanded with two new stores in northwest Philadelphia, as well an additional building for administrative offices. The larger of the two new stores is located at 8418 Germantown Ave, at the former Caruso's grocery store site, the smaller store is located in West Oak Lane section of Philadelphia. There is also a warehouse several miles away in East Germantown
Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Germantown is a neighborhood in the northwest section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, about 7–8 miles northwest from the center of the city...
. Weavers Way has participated in such events and organizations as Mt. Airy Day, Mt. Airy ArtJam, Mt. Airy YouthWorks, Mt. Airy Business Association, and Mt. Airy USA (MAUSA).
Membership and shopping
Membership is available to anyone; an equity investment in the co-op is required of all members. Although working at the co-op was recently changed to an option instead of a requirement (in order to increase the membership base), many members continue to participate in its operation as part of the fundamental spirit of a community co-operative, and also to save 5% on groceries. Weavers Way stores are open to the general public; however, Weavers Way Co-op members some special prices on some goods and services, as well as other benefits, like discounts at many area businesses.Community activities
Weavers Way is also active in the community, primarily through its nonprofit arm, Weavers Way Community Programs (WWCP), which administers the Co-op's educational programs. These include the Marketplace Program, which partners with area elementary schools to teach students about health, nutrition, business and cooperation. Under supervision of school and Co-op staffers, students choose healthy snacks to buy from the Co-op at cost, decide on a mark-up, then package items like cheese breadsticks, cakes and pickles to sell alongside prepackaged goods like locally-produced chocolate milk and cider. At the end of the year, the students decide on worthy causes for the proceeds. Recent recipients have included the Red Cross, the Cancer Society, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsSociety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a non-profit animal welfare organization originally founded in England in 1824 to pass laws protecting carriage horses from abuse. SPCA groups are now found in many nations, where they campaign for animal welfare, assist in cruelty to animals...
, the African Children's Fund, AIDS, Philabundance and the HEIFER project. The program started with the C. W. Henry School across the street and has since expanded to include five schools. Other educational programs include WWCP's Farm Education programs, which take place on three of Weavers Way's four urban farms located in Northwest Philadelphia: Mort Brooks Memorial Farm at Awbury Arboretum, Hope Garden at Stenton Family Manor, and Henry Got Crops! community supported agriculture (CSA) farm at Saul Agricultural High School.
The Mort Brooks Memorial Organic Farm was Weavers Way's first farm, an urban intensive organic farm a few miles from Weavers Way at Awbury Arboretum in Germantown. Named after a member who was instrumental to the Co-op’s early success, the Mort Brooks Memorial Farm was founded in 2000, in large part due to the efforts of Mort's widow, Norma Brooks. In 2007, Weavers Way moved to transform the mostly volunteer run farm into a productive farm with a structured educational program, with a full time horticulturalist and a farm educator. Since then, the farm program has grown to include several acres at the current four farm locations (the fourth being a strictly production plot located in East Mt. Airy), with two full time farmers, two farm educators, as well as several apprentices and interns. Hundreds of students come through the farm's education programs each year.
Scandal
A bookkeeping scandal in 2002 nearly bankrupted the co-op - the co-op's bookkeeper had been concealing evidence that the co-op was losing money. Criminal charges against the bookkeeper were later settled, and there was no evidence that the bookkeeper personally used co-op funds or otherwise benefited from her mismanagement of the co-op's finances. The scandal exposed the need for the co-op to modernize and professionalize its practices, which has been done.Growth
Bolstered by improved finances in the years following the scandal, together with increased membership, Weavers Way expanded to two new locations in Philadelphia, the first in 2008 in West Oak Lane and named Weavers Way Ogontz, located on 2129 72nd Avenue (not to be confused with 72nd StreetSouthwest Philadelphia
Southwest Philadelphia is a section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The section can be described as extending from the western side of the Schuylkill River to the city line, with the SEPTA Media/Elwyn Line serving as the northern border...
) near Ogontz Avenue, a major thoroughfare. A second store was opened in 2010 in Chestnut Hill
Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Chestnut Hill is a neighborhood in the Northwest Philadelphia section of the United States city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-Boundaries:Chestnut Hill is bounded as follows:...
, in the location of the former Caruso's Market at 8424 Germantown Avenue. In September, 2011, Weavers Way transferred ownership of the West Oak Lane store to the Ogontz Avenue Revitalization Coporation (OARC), which announced plans to reopen the store as a non-cooperative community market.