It was supposed to relocate to its new home this fall, then maybe by the New Year. An email was sent to members and news posted online that it would happen on February 1st.

Now, the opening date for the new Mariposa Co-op site, at 4824 Baltimore Ave. in West Philly, has been moved back to mid-February due to a delay in the delivery of a piece of refrigeration equipment.

Handsome building

Rendering looks pretty much the same. Different sign, of course. And creepy rendering people.

But alas, the expansion project is coming to a close. Products have been ordered and soon, out west, there will be an expanded organic and local produce, dairy and meat (and tofu!) section for the farm-to-kitchen set.

Before, only members could shop at the co-op, getting a 5% discount, and working members get 10%. Outsiders could get one-time free passes. When Mariposa opens next month, it will be as a grocery store that’s open to the public. On Tuesday, a walk-in storage refrigeration unit was moved from the old digs to the new grounds.

While prices will remain the same, marketing and outreach coordinator Chakka Reeves, says the goal is to keep the prices from increasing.

Internal rendering from Re:Vision Architecture

A $2.5M fundraising campaign, $2.4M of which has been raised, facilitated the project. Twenty-eight percent of that money has come from grassroots fundraising. Other contributors include the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (20%), Cedar Park Neighbors, University City District, R5 Productions and many more.

And with a novelty shop (with humidor room included), the 4800 block of Baltimore Ave. is churning along.

–Lou Mancinelli