Renaissance Community Co-op Answers Questions After Announcing Closing

There was standing room only Monday night at a public meeting about Greensboro's Renaissance Community Co-op.

The grocery store announced last week that it will be closing its doors on January 25th after just two years of operation.

The co-op's board presented the group with finances that showed consecutive monthly sales significantly lower than needed.

Greensboro resident Louis Smith says when he was there several times a week the store was often lacking customers and that people continued to go across town to other places.

“I'm not downhearted because of this. I'm disappointed," he says. "If we could get the group here tonight just to come in and shop, the place would be open.”

The board fielded questions about marketing efforts, liability for remaining debt, and the cost of food.

They indicated they would like to leave the equipment in the building in hopes that another grocer will fill the space.

Renaissance opened in 2016 to address a food desert in Northeast Greensboro. While the store will close this month, the legal entity behind it will not be disbanded as of now. The board suggested a meeting will be called in February to address its future.