The SunCoast Market Co-op, after 7 years of planning, is in danger of losing its leased space in Imperial Beach if a funding goal of $1.6 million is not met by this fall, officials said.
The SunCoast Market Co-op is a grassroots effort to open a community-owned, full-service cooperative grocery store in Imperial Beach—a much needed source of healthy food options for the South Bay community, organizers said.
The store is projected to generate $6.5 million for the region annually.
The space in jeopardy at 600 Palm Ave. is close to the end of its contingency period, so the Co-Op needs to start construction and hire a general manager before running out of time, according to SunCoast Board President Kim Frink.
Thousands of hours donated
Organizers of the SunCoast Market Co-op announced on Aug. 24 that after thousands of hours donated to this project and over 1,100 community members’ investments, skyrocketing construction costs have resulted in another $1.6 million needed to keep the project alive.
“It’s kind of like running a race where the finish line keeps moving.”
-Kim Frink, president of the SunCoast board.
“It’s kind of like running a race where the finish line keeps moving,” said Frink.
Shannon Ratliff, the vice president of the SunCoast board, said the organization wants to begin construction this fall and have doors open by summer 2024.
“So far we’ve raised about $2 million towards our $4.3 million project, but if we don’t raise another $1.6 million by this fall, we risk losing this beautiful location,” Ratliff said. “That’s not something that we want to compromise, so we’re really committed to making it happen.”
Mayor Paloma Aguirre major supporter
Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre, who has supported the effort from day one, said the community needs a store like the SunCoast Market since Imperial Beach is considered a food desert with a lack of healthy food options.
“We have an over representation of fast food places and an underrepresentation of healthy production.”
-Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre.
“We have an over representation of fast food places and an underrepresentation of healthy production,” Aguirre said. “That’s why this is so important, and it’s going to bring great benefits not just to the city of Imperial Beach but to the entire South Bay, including Chula Vista, National City and San Ysidro. All of these communities are minority, majority communities that are already predisposed to diseases like diabetes and heart conditions.”
Aguirre made her comments at a press conference with others to raise awareness about the need for a cash infusion.
The SunCoast Market Co-op not only will provide healthy, locally sourced food options to the community, but it will also bring education options, support of local food banks, special programs for those with lower incomes and growth opportunities for vendors and small businesses, organizers said.
Asking for community support
Frink said they hope to be a model for under-resourced communities, and hopes the community sees this vision.
“We just really hope that people that are out there [who] are community minded—that want to support healthy food, sustainability, farms, small businesses—that they’ll be a partner with us in making this happen for Imperial Beach and South Bay,” Frink said.
The American Heart Association, which has also been a longtime supporter of the SunCoast Market, echoed these sentiments at the press conference.
“The Heart Association encourages other organizations, businesses and philanthropists to get involved and support this important effort for our community,” said Jessica Newmyer, American Heart Association executive director.
To learn more about this project visit https://suncoastmarket.coop/.
