Dandelion Market celebrates grand reopening on Sept. 23

The Dandelion Market, Carbondale’s community food co-op grocery store that features locally grown produce and organic and natural foods, is celebrating its grand re-opening with a community Bonanza on Saturday, Sept. 23.

The market is conveniently located at 1310 Highway 133, next to Rhumba Girl Liquors and across the road from Wells Fargo Bank. The event is scheduled from noon to 4 p.m., and will include store specials, door prizes, activities, music and a potluck lunch. All items in the store are 20 percent off that day. Additionally, the Rhumba Girls will be offering fantastic in store promotions during the event.

Dandelion Market relocated after its building on Main Street was demolished and replaced with a fenced off grass area. It is now under the management of Terri Anzini, who is a local farmer and has operated organic groceries in Carbondale in the past. The store also has a full board made up of Erica Sparhawk, Jeff Dickinson, Sotantar, Richard Vottero and Shana Miller, who have been meeting weekly to get the market off the ground.

“Terri has done a great job filling the store with produce from around the region and the products our customers rely on the market to carry,” says Sparhawk. “We want to celebrate the fact that we are now fully up and running and let people know where we are located.”

The market has, in fact, been reopened since Aug. 16, but the board and management wanted to hold off on a celebration until the store was more fully stocked and the shifts were filled by volunteers, who get a discount on purchases in exchange for their services.

“It’s taken about a month to put it all together, but we are operating as hoped now,” says Anzini.

Working member volunteers are now covering approximately 40 hours of time at the store, which is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The store is now also using a point of sale system to track purchases and keep track of inventory.

“That will help us manage inventory, operate on a tight budget and fill the store with more items our customers are requesting,” says Sparhawk. “We also need to thank our landlords Beth and Matt Maun, who own the building and Rhumba Girl Liquor. They really made it easy and possible for us to relocate.”

The location has provided a boost for the store, with new customers walking in every day and discovering its local and organic food selection, according to Anzini.

As for the Sept. 23 event, people are encouraged to bring a dish, utensils and a chair. Festivities start at noon. One activity, led by Aaron Taylor, will be to build bike racks out of pallets. There will be games and music as well — and of course all those great deals. Parking is available at the Faith Lutheran Church on Eighth Street in Carbondale.

Visit the Dandelion Market Facebook Page for more event details.