Dearest Cooperative Community,

A big heartfelt thank you to everyone who has reached out with care and concern and offers for help. As devastating as this is, we are looking at the positive aspects of this situation. We had many people really show up for the Co-op to get us opened up so quickly and I am forever grateful - our Managers and Staff, the Board, the Landlords, and even the National Co-op showed up for us!

I know that you have lots of questions and ideas about the break-in situation. Please reach out to me directly at gm@deeprootsmarket.com

Here are some things that I would like to share so far:

• We are working on getting a better door that will automatically open. (Please help others in and out, and thank you to those who bring your carts back.)

• The Bitcoin machine was marketed to us to help the “unbanked” (people without bank accounts). We saw it as a service to our community. Once we realized how controversial it was, we requested that it be removed. We had been awaiting the removal for over 45 days when the break-in happened.

• We might be under construction well into 2024, but we have yet to determine how long it will take. The doors alone have a 6-8 month lead time.

• We want to take this unique opportunity to make a few changes to the front end to better serve the customers and the store's needs if we can. We have folks helping us with plans and construction that are very familiar with the original build of your facility. We also want to incorporate a bathroom remodel into this wonky time of inconvenience. The result will be 3 separate locking bathrooms and a supply closet. Also, we’d love new trash bins with a recycling/handwashing sink.

• We are working on getting the community room back up and running by the end of the month.

If anyone has any questions, ideas, or suggestions, please send them to me. Questions are very helpful in this process. We will be as transparent as we navigate yet another unprecedented grocery challenge.

We will be doing a fundraising campaign. In the meantime, if you want to donate, there are donation buttons at the register and on the website. Anything over $5 will be put into a particular account for the remodel. Yes, we filed insurance and assume more is needed to pay for everything, especially if we make some upgrades.

I will answer all emails, and I will send out updates as I have new information to share.

THANK YOU all for your care, concern, and positivity. We will be better than ever before!

Kind regards, Nicole Villano, your Co-op loving GM