Moonflower Community Cooperative has been around for over three decades, but this anniversary marks a milestone: ten years ago, the natural grocer became Utah’s first member-owned cooperative.
Moonflower is now a thriving grocer right in the heart of downtown Moab, but began as a group of friends in the 1970s that organized to buy bulk goods not available in the post-uranium boom town. The club became a co-op which grew under Conrad Sorensen, then became a nonprofit and moved into its current space.
While all of the changes and progress over the years made Moonflower what it is today, gaining the formal legal status as a member-owned co-op stands out to Maggie Keating.
“It was actually a complicated legal process,” said Keating, Moonflower’s marketing and community outreach coordinator. “Everything had to be reexamined and rewritten and registered. Most of the legwork was done before 2013, then we got the status and we’ve been celebrating every year since then!”
Keating said that she felt something special was needed to mark the tenth anniversary.
“Every year, we have our local vendors come by so people can meet them and talk about the products and put a face to the person behind the business,” she said. “That’s so much of what we’re about: local vendors, local products and local food is what makes us different from any old chain grocery store.”
This year, the celebration has expanded outside of the building: the parking spaces in front of the co-op will be closed off to form a parklet for some additional outdoor hang-out space during the event.
One beloved aspect of the event has been missing since before the COVID-19 pandemic: the community meal.
“We’re bringing it back,” said Keating happily. “The community dinner is so popular and it feels great to have it again.”
The community meal will be held down the street at the Moab Arts and Recreation Center (111 E. 100 North).
Keating said that getting the community out and celebrating again feels great after the challenges of the pandemic and running a business with the challenges of employee turnover.
“Our annual owner meeting is on that day as well, which is traditional,” said Keating. “The meeting is a great way for all our members to find out what’s been going on at the market this year.”
“We have a great core of employees that I’m really grateful for, and we’re doing a lot to invest in our staff,” she said. After all, building community is their specialty.
“Phases of the Moon,” the Moonflower anniversary event, will be held all day on Saturday, August 13 at Moonflower Community Cooperative (39 E. 100 North, Moab).
The community meal will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at the MARC (111 E. 100 North, Moab). There will be free dinner, drinks and music. RSVP at bit.ly/moonie10year.
This local business column is made possible with the support of the Grand County Economic Development Department, which strives to create a diverse economy, support local businesses, and improve the quality of life for Grand County’s current and future residents.
