Green Conscious neighborhoods in Chicago (Lincoln, Madison: sale, lease, coops)

[chet everett]

...some people think a special kind of "magic" happens when you live inside a political boundary others believe that something equally unique happens when the "ownership" of enterprise is not "corporate" but more "collective" -- Cooperative - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Originally Posted by Vlajos

What is it about a coop that's so special?

[Chi-town Native]

Originally Posted by chet everett

...some people think a special kind of "magic" happens when you live inside a political boundary others believe that something equally unique happens when the "ownership" of enterprise is not "corporate" but more "collective" -- Cooperative - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It simply means the co-op members have a say in how the store is run, which also creates a community.

In practice, the fact we only have one in Chicago says everything about how corporatized we've become.

90% of the people I talk to seem to think that you judge a store by their prices, but I believe you judge a store by how they choose their suppliers and how they their employees.

You will never encounter a genuinely happy environment at Wal-Mart - those workers are miserable.

I try to shop at Jewel as they are union and those are actual living-wage jobs. Aldi and Costco are also supposed to be decent in that regard.

[jsk1983]

Originally Posted by Chi-town Native

It simply means the co-op members have a say in how the store is run, which also creates a community.

In practice, the fact we only have one in Chicago says everything about how corporatized we've become.

90% of the people I talk to seem to think that you judge a store by their prices, but I believe you judge a store by how they choose their suppliers and how they their employees.

You will never encounter a genuinely happy environment at Wal-Mart - those workers are miserable.

I try to shop at Jewel as they are union and those are actual living-wage jobs. Aldi and Costco are also supposed to be decent in that regard.

I was a member of the UFCW at one point and was paid at or near minimum wage.

[Vlajos]

I worked for Jewel in High School quite a while ago and made $10/hour. It was real nice.

[jsk1983]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

I worked for Jewel in High School quite a while ago and made $10/hour. It was real nice.

Doing what? I guess the stores here pay more (I'm from Buffalo).

[coldwine]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

"Green lifestyle", Christ.

I try not rolling my eyes, but something about these posts just makes me hate them.

[Chi-town Native]

Originally Posted by coldwine

I try not rolling my eyes, but something about these posts just makes me hate them.

I try not to go too overboard, but let's just say there is something seriously wrong with a family that produces trash far in excess of their garbage can allotment in the alley.

Is it really too much to ask to get people to think about where all that crap has to end up? I guarantee you the farmers where all the landfills go sure ain't too happy about it.

[JBVirtuoso]

Hyde Park used to have a co-op grocery store, but it closed in 2008, I believe. I wasn't around then, but from what I understand, it was really overpriced and offered poor quality groceries.

However, Hyde Park does still have Hyde Park Produce.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by jsk1983

Doing what? I guess the stores here pay more (I'm from Buffalo).

Dairy Department

[bkerl]

For those who offered helpful responses - thank you. I guess we'll spend some time getting to know Hyde Park next time we visit the city.

To the others, I just don't get spending time writing sarcastic message board responses, but whatever, it's your life to waste.