Chester Creek House/ Whole Foods Co-op
I am a journalism student at UMD and I am currently working on a history story regarding the first days of the Whole Foods Co-op. If any of you remember the first days yourself, were somehow involved, or know someone who was involved please let me know. I would love to talk to you to learn more!
Call Builder’s Commonwealth and ask for Arno.
I lived at Chester Creek House with my family from 1972 – 79 9(ages 6 to 13 for me). Many memories of draft dodgers on their way to Canada, burnt granola experiments, macrame, sand candles in the shape of peace signs and raiding the date bins in the first days of the Co-Op. I have completed the child of hippy recovery program and am willing to talk about it
^experiments
That’s so interesting! Can you shoot me a email with your contact info? my email is [email protected] Is there a time that you are free to talk to me tomorrow? Thank you so much for your response!
Baci, are you kidding us?
He’s not.
Thanks for the confirmation Tim. Yep, it’s true.
Funny the things you learn about people…
What was the Chester Creek House (apart from a Hippie Enclave)?
My family had a membership to the co-op back in the late 1970s and early ’80s, when it was still over in the small building on Eighth street. I volunteered a couple of Saturday afternoons doing stuff like re-stocking shelves and filling bins. I don’t remember much about the details as I was fairly young.
You might might want to talk with Bruce Mork in the Sociology/Anthropology Department at UMD. He mentioned that he was involved with the Co-op from the mid 1970s into the late ’80s. I think he was the manager. He had meetings at the Chester Creek House.
Baci was there. Arno too. I worked with Baci’s father in the early-to-mid-1970s and was a regular visitor to Chester Creek.
The local alternative newspaper Wild Currents from that time (early 70s) has advertisements and other info about the Co-op. Check ’em out at the Northeast Minnesota Historical Center. It’s in the UMD library. That’s that place next to the parking lot.
My father worked at the co-op when it was where Boreal Bikes is now. I remember playing with a guy named Alex (whom I reconnected with in high school and he told me my dad gave him cookies) and a girl, can’t remember her name (she believed she was Christopher Robin) in the Crow’s Nest (a lofted area with sacks of beans and rice). I’d be happy to answer any questions but I doubt I’d be the resource that bacci will be.
Thank you for all the help guys! It is greatly appreciated and I am finding some really interesting stuff!
Many of the professors in the Women’s Studies Department at UMD have been involved/lived at the Chester Creek House through the years.
The Duluth Public Library also has a collection of the Co-op newsletters.
Leefr … just figured it out. Hi! My pops is having his 70th at the end of March. Email me off PDD (cbacigalupo at g mail dot com) and I’ll send you an invite.
My mom worked at the Co-op from about ’85-’91. I remember running around there causing trouble. I told her about this post. Maybe she’ll have some good stories to share.
I spent a vast portion of my childhood hanging at the Chester Creek House. My aunt, Lindy, lived there after her diagnosis of breast cancer.
My mom, Susan, founded the Whole Foods Co-op (and the warehouse, and Builders) along with Arno Kahn, Kent Schul, and a bunch of other DFHs.
My stepdad did the woodwork of the original sign that hung in front of the original HFCO. Not sure where that went, but it was a gorgeous bit of woodwork.
I agree that Arno would be a great source of information on this subject.
My friend Susan Askelin and I scrubbed out the shelves in the basement and took the first run to Mpls for supplies. It seems to me her small little car was loaded down with sacks of flour,etc. I wish I could remember more. Susan is not living anymore so she can’t add anything.
Wow, this is a CCH reunion thread! Hi guys!
Patbeg: I am Susan’s son, Jason. Howdy!
That basement was gross (but intriguing) and I loved how the walk-in cooler smelled.
I always considered the loft to be my personal space (under the desk, IIRC.
Anybody remember the old church off Martin Road (I believe) that served as the first Builders’ shop. I loved that place.
Hey everyone! Thank you for all your help! Here is my article! Enjoy!
Reliving the memories of Chester Creek House