WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. — A new co-op market is coming to the Village of Williamsville.
The village board recently got approval from the state to open it. The co-op will be similar to the Lexington Co-op, but it will be put together by its own members.
The 11,200-square-foot store will be on Evans Street, and all the products offered will be local.
2 On Your Side was told by by co-op organizers that this could be a great opportunity to support the community, economy, and most importantly local farmers, who oftentimes go through dry seasons.
"As a as a retired person who worked in the rural areas of Western New York, being able to support your local farming community, I think, is just as important because those farmers sometimes can't produce the amount that's needed at the larger stores," according to Jim Walfrand, president of the Village Co-op Market of Williamsville.
"But in our store, there their products will work perfectly. So I think it merges keeping the money locally, supporting locally, providing a fair living wage to our members or to our employees. I think that is just as important."
The board just launched a campaign to raise donations to speed up the store's construction process.
If they raise enough money, it will open late this fall or early next year.