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Central Co-op set for an E Madison facelift

Front Entry Elevation_132in sign Revised layoutCentral Co-op is getting a makeover, but nothing on the inside is going to change.

The building’s landlord, Madison Crossing, is working on some improvements to the exterior. Construction is expected to start within the next few weeks, and should last about five months, assuming there are no delays in permitting or construction, the co-op’s Suzanne Schultz told CHS. The building opened in 1998, and the Co-op, moved in shortly after.

Schultz said the store plans to remain open during its normal business hours throughout the construction. She said the interior layout and selection of products will not change, nor will the look of the inside of the store.

“Most of the work is not going to be happening in our store,” she said.

The plan calls for enclosing the covered area near the entrance, along with the stairs leading from the parking lot.

“We think it’s going to be a lot more welcoming,” Schultz said.

Along with this work, the elevator will be updated to have doors on both sides. Schultz said this will allow customers to simply push a cart straight through.

“You don’t have to do the weird 20-point turn,” she said.

The Co-op, formerly known as Madison Market, will also work to preserve the wall of tiles commemorating donors who helped fund the store moving in to the location. For now, they are taking photos of all of the tiles, and will find a new way of displaying them in a prominent location.

Schultz said the hope is to turn it into a piece of art which can be moved, in case future changes necessitate that. She also hopes the new wall will be a bit more colorful.

Central Co-op has been around for about 40 years, getting its start on 12th Ave before moving to its current location. In 2015, it signed a 20-year lease on the location, with another 20-year option

The Co-op, meanwhile, is  making an effort to be a part of the development around the Capitol Hill light rail station. It hopes to open a second location there when the new mixed-use buildings open, and is competing with Portland-based New Seasons for the spot.

Central Co-op is a longtime CHS advertiser.

Last August, the Co-op faced backlash over the closure of its sister store in Tacoma and went through the resignation of its CEO.

Meanwhile, CHS reported that the grocery business around Capitol Hill is still ready for a new injection of corporate power as Whole Foods said its Broadway/Madison store is still on track for a 2018 opening despite rocky economic times for the nationwide chain.

Central Co-op is located at 1600 E Madison. Hours are 6 a.m. to midnight, daily. You can learn more at centralcoop.coop.

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