Mariposa Food Co-op

Mariposa Food Co-op is a consumer-owned food cooperative located in West Philadelphia. As a co-op, it shares earnings with member-owners through the distribution of dividends. It was formerly a members-only grocery where only members could shop. Founded in 1971, Mariposa was initially located in a small, usually-locked, and unstaffed space at 4726 Baltimore Avenue. On Mar. 17th, 2012, it moved to its current address 4824 Baltimore Avenue and opened to the public. 

Mariposa’s move to this significantly larger space was made possible, in part, due to support of the Community Design Collaborative, which worked with ReVision Architecture to develop a conceptual design for the facility. A loan from the Reinvestment Fund provided the necessary financing. The Co-op appealed to the Reinvestment Fund’s mission, given its ability to increase affordable and accessible healthy food options in the area—the top neighborhood concern. The emphasis on accessibility is part of what stimulated the shift from being a members-only grocery to one that could be frequented by anyone. The Co-op’s expansion also supported local economic development through one-time construction jobs and on-going permanent positions (8-10 when reopened in 2012). The structure itself is a former bank building, which was already listed on the National Register of Historic Places before Mariposa’s move. Immediately prior, it had served as home to a church. As part of the building’s adaptive reuse, architects restored decorative plaster ceilings, polished the terrazzo floors, and repaired the façade; they also upgraded mechanical systems.

Figure 2. The exterior and interior of the church building. © University City District https://www.universitycity.org/blog/mariposa-little-co-op-could

Sources: 

https://mariposa.coop/history 

http://reinvestment.com/success-story/mariposa-food-co-op/

http://universitycity.org/blog/mariposa-little-co-op-could