Your Riverwest Co-op + Cafe

Food for People, Not for Profit

WHO ARE WE ?

We are a natural food store and cafe located in Milwaukee’s vibrant Riverwest neighborhood. We are dedicated to providing the community with nutritious food and are proud to feature organic, local, and fair trade products. As a community-based, member-owned, and volunteer-run organization, we go beyond being simply a grocery and cafe, providing a genuinely welcoming community that seeks to create beneficial connections between the producers and people we serve. We attribute our 21-year success to a business model that is focused on people. Because of this, we strive to provide “Food for People, Not for Profit.”

Our Mission

The primary mission of the co-op is to operate a financially-sound grocery store and café in the Riverwest neighborhood of Milwaukee, WI. Cooperative philosophy and values are an essential part of our enterprise; therefore, the co-op will operate in a fully democratic manner.

Finally, we strive to follow the Seven Cooperative Principles:

  • Voluntary and Open Membership

  • Democratic Member Control

  • Members’ Economic Participation

  • Autonomy and Independence

  • Education, Training, and Information

  • Cooperation Among Cooperatives

  • Concern for Community

 
 
 
 
 

In the fall of 1999...

Members of the Riverwest Workers Buying Club and other community members decided to dedicate their time and resources toward building a viable neighborhood food co-op. Thanks to the generosity of two loyal members, the 1904 former Schlitz Tied House at the corner of Clarke and Fratney was purchased and rented to the Co-op. After two years of planning and fundraising, and thousands of hours of hard work, the Co-op opened its doors to the public in November 2001.

Initially the store had only a couple of shelves and a few dozen items. Our first few years were dedicated to expanding the inventory. After three years, we were successful enough to hire one full-time and one part-time employee to complement the volunteer staff.

The Riverwest Co-op Café opened in October 2004. The Café has earned a great reputation throughout the city for offering delicious vegetarian and vegan fare and has received positive reviews in the local media. The café prides itself on using the same local, organic ingredients in our food that we sell in our store.

 
 
 

BOARD & COMMITTEES

The Riverwest Co-op is operated by the collective work of several committees alongside a board of directors.

Please visit the link below to view minutes from past board meetings and other reports:

 

CURRENT BOARD

Members are elected to the board of the Riverwest Co-op every year at the general membership meeting (GMM). Board members serve a 1 to 3 year term and are responsible for overseeing the sustainability and growth of the Co-op and its membership. You may contact the board at any time at board@riverwestcoop.org.

  • Ned Littlefield – President

  • - Vice President

  • Wendy Mesich- Treasurer

  • JJ Burch - Secretary

  • William Kaftan

  • Marty Kleiber

  • John Van Akkeren

  • Amy Donahue - Interim

  • Marty Malin - Interim

WORKERS’ COLLECTIVE

Manages the day to day operations of the Co-op, participates on committees core to operations, and works with the Board of Directors on long term planning.

Reach the WC info@riverwestcoop.org

COMMUNICATIONs committee

The mission of the Communications Committee is to expand the business and increase awareness of the Riverwest Co-op and Café. The Committee is also responsible for Co-op events, advertising and promotions, as well as maintaining the Co-op’s website, social media, and internal communications.

The biggest strength of the Co-op is its membership and the people power of our volunteers. By using these resources, we strive to rely less on mainstream advertising and instead engage the community directly. If you’d like to know more about the mission of the Comm Comm, please send an email to commcomm.rwcoop@gmail.com.

Sign up for our Newsletter

Membership Committee

The membership committee is primarily responsible for maintaining the co-op's membership database.  Adding new members to the database, applying discounts, and communicating with members to help keep their memberships current. They also run yearly membership drives.

If you have a passion for detail-oriented data entry or working on recruitment of members the Membership Committee would love to here from you. or if you have any issues with your membership or not receiving our montly newsletter please let us know: rwcoopmemcom@gmail.com.

Sustainability Commitee

The Sustainability Committee serves as an advocate for the environment implementing best practices to reduce our carbon footprint and further integrate sustainability issues into the operation of the Co-op.
As of Fall 2024 we are rebuilding this commitee and are looking to build up the committee and projects.

Past projects include Boomerang bags, awarness over packaging, working with building owner to install solar panels on the roof(completed in 2015)

To join this commitee email sustainability@riverwestcoop.org

FINANCE committee

The Finance Committee is composed of the Board Treasurer, staff, and volunteers. Their responsibilities include:

  • Oversight of the general financial well-being of the Co-op

  • Coordination with accountant to obtain updated financial data

  • Reporting monthly to the Board of Directors on current financial data

  • Along with the Workers Collective and Board, monitoring the annual budget and progress.

  • Making recommendations to the Workers Collective and Board regarding profit, loss, and assets.

  • To Join email volunteer@riverwestcoop.org

HUMAN RESOURCES committee

The Human Resources Committee’s responsibilities include:

  • Along with the Workers Collective, completing annual and probationary reviews.

  • Reviewing the Employee Manual and, along with the Board and Workers Collective, making revisions as needed.

  • Assisting staff and managers with any grievances and pertinent issues when appropriate.

  • Assisting with providing the initial orientation for new Workers Collective managers to the Employee Manual, duties, and expectations.

BUILDING & MAINTENANCE committee

  • Oversee regular maintenance and access to supplies.

  • Inform finance committee of expected costs for upkeep.

  • Maintain inviting ambiance at the co-op.

  • contact volunteer@riverwestcoop.org