December 2011
The Idea
The idea of starting a cooperatively owned grocery store in Bloomington-Normal began in December of 2011. Our first community meeting — a standing room only event — was held on March 27th, 2012, with over 100 people attending
December 2011
August 2012
Green Top was incorporated
In August of 2012, Green Top was incorporated in the State of Illinois and began selling ownership shares later that month.
August 2012
September 2012
Green Top was chosen above 31
In September of 2012, Green Top was chosen above 31 other co-op start-ups to receive the highly competitive $10,000 Seed Grant from the Food Coop Initiative (FCI). This award demonstrated FCI’s faith in our ability to launch a successful co-op. These funds enabled us to hire our first employee, an Outreach Manager.
September 2012
February 2013
Additional grants
Additional grants, both local and from the cooperative community, funded the cost of our incorporation and our first feasibility study (completed Feb. 2013). This feasibility study confirmed that Bloomington-Normal exceeded the criteria for starting and sustaining a successful cooperative grocery.
February 2013
June 2014
publicly announced Green Top’s new home
We reached the 500 owner mark early in June of 2014 which kicked off our search for a store site. After much research and location analysis, on May 13, 2015 we publicly announced that Green Top’s new home would be at 921 E. Washington St., Bloomington.
June 2014
TODAY!
fully operational co-op grocery store
Today, with over 1,900 owners (and many more employees) we are a fully operational co-op grocery store! Please stop in any time to see how our dreams of servicing Bloomington/Normal with healthy, local food have come true.
TODAY!