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Wed
Mar 21
2012

Mariposa Opens Its New Location At Last

It’s been more than a year since our first post about Mariposa Co-op’s relocation to 4824 Baltimore Ave. Initial plans called for the move to be completed last fall.

But that didn’t fly and then it was supposed to open in December, then, by mid-February, then March 1st. When the opening was stalled yet again because a piece of refrigeration equipment had yet to arrive, the grand opening date was moved back to March 17th.

But lo, last week, after we walked a few miles to the grocery store and back, we noticed Mariposa was open for business two whole days before its grand opening.

Yay!

High ceilings

Attractive produce

The old space, future expanded Vientiene Cafe

Oh, snap. Wish we would have known that and bought Mariposa’s local and organic produce and meat and saved ourselves the long walk. Though, we are glad we bought our Bob Evans maple sausage links at Shop n Bag on 43rd and Walnut Sts., because at Mariposa a pound of sweet Italian sausage will run you, oh, about $15. How much for a pound of bacon, you ask? Meh, ’round $7. Whoa. But hey, if one wants the best, you have to pay.

Higher prices are to be expected in a store that is maybe half the size of the Trader Joe’s at 22nd and Market Sts. and is run by its members. But the opening of a large neighborhood market of this kind indicates a cultural change that has been evolving in the U.S. in recent years, as the farm-to-table, organic, and green movements sweep the nation like war fever, only the war is the fight for one’s health and autonomy. Big ups to the folks at Mariposa for making this happen and we are looking forward to eating tasty local bacon (or tasty local vegan bacon). We are always in support of paying more for better quality, but not too much, eh?

–Lou Mancinelli

Photo credit: Photos are from Mariposa’s Facebook page.

11
COMMENTS
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Posted in University City | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments
  • WeBuiltThisCity

    Co-op should have prices lower than that (I don’t know what produce costs there). The point of being non-profit, with members doing much of the work on a volunteer basis, is to help drive down the costs somewhat.

    I appreciate what the co-op and all co-ops do. That being said, I’ll pay 5-10% more at a local co-op for an equivalent product, but not 25-50% more. If they can’t solve for that as they grow, that is too bad.

  • Guest

    I love that building, and considering that it used to be a Church, this new use should make the building a huge destination in the area, which is great.

    Also, apparently the Belulah Tabernacle moved to Drexel Hill in a building and Church that was a major spot for local bands to play, especially high school kids.  Talk about a major move.

  • Guest

     Scratch that, read the address wrong.  They’re actually right by Upper Darby High School, which is apparently a major location for crazy people to take their clothes off and act like idiots these days.  Still, going from West Philly to Drexel Hill is a major move no matter what part of it you move to.  I wish them all the best.

  • Guest

    I think/hope they’ll be able to lower their prices as their membership expands and their sales volume increases. Keep in mind they until a couple weeks ago they used to have the purchasing power of a 500 sq ft storefront…

  • Jeff

     Although the meat is expensive, produce and dried goods at Mariposa are cheaper than at Supreme, usually, and the produce is much better.

  • http://internetmoneytree7.info/ray1234/?p=547 Little Baby's Ice Cream Freezes Out Frankford Ave.; Khyber Taps … | test site

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    [...] of abandoned commercial buildings. Today, 49th and Baltimore is just a few doors down from the Mariposa Food Coop. It’s gone from narcotics to organic kale just fifteen years! Image from Philly [...]

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    [...] off of the burgeoning Baltimore Avenue commercial corridor, as you can see in the photos. With the opening of Mariposa on the 4800 block less than a year ago, and new stores popping up on the 4900 block and the 5000 block, Baltimore [...]

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