Jun. 14—POTSDAM — The Potsdam Food Co-op will use their 2019 2019 Downtown Revitalization Initiative award to build a new store. The co-op board also named Jessie LaRose as the store’s new general manager.
The $1.6 million DRI award will construct a new 5,340 square foot grocery store at 24 Elm St. to accommodate a larger store, office space, and parking. About 3,000 square feet will be allocated for retail. The new store will replace the existing co-op structure.
The store design was completed by Aubertine & Currier, an architectural and engineering firm based in Watertown.
The DRI funds will pay for design, engineering, and environmental work.
Roughly $3.7 million in additional resources will need to be secured from other sources including grants and loans for building construction, fixtures, equipment, inventory, and project management.
The new co-op building will be fully accessible and fully electric in support of New York State’s renewable energy and decarbonization goals, a news release from the co-op board says.
The co-op board unanimously voted LaRose from acting general manager to general manager. She has nearly 17 years of experience at the co-op. She was named acting general manager in February 2024.
“I’ve lived in and loved Potsdam for more than half of my life and the Co-op has been like a second home for the majority of that time,” LaRose said in a news release. “It’s a privilege and an honor to be in this role, especially as we move forward with our long-awaited expansion.” She added, “I’m grateful for the Board of Directors for their support and trust in me and the opportunity to lead our food co-op. I look forward to continuing to work with the board and the staff to achieve the goals we have set together, and grow this vital community organization.”
“I am so excited to see all of the progress we have made on our expansion efforts, and even more excited for the new co-op that will result from all of this hard work,” LaRose said in the release. “It is very rewarding work. We are incredibly grateful for everything that has allowed us to get to this point in the project. The DRI is a real blessing, and we are thrilled to be under contract with New York State.”
“Jessie has been instrumental in shepherding the co-op through very challenging times as our acting general manager,” co-op board president Andre Comandon said in the release. “We have been excited to see her and the staff’s hard work pay off with an improving financial outlook and concrete steps toward the co-op expansion.”