Nov. 18--The Yahara River Grocery Co-op in Stoughton will look different beginning Friday in an attempt to increase sales for the struggling business.

Some higher-priced products will be eliminated, new items added and the store rearranged. The new interim manager is hopeful that results will be seen soon, since Thanksgiving and Christmas mark some of the busiest times for grocers.

"In the next several weeks we'll know if we've done what we need to do," said Wynston Estis, who is managing the store and is on loan from the Willy Street Co-op. "We're trying to create an environment that makes the change exciting and rewarding. We want to build in that sense of community."

The 2,500-square-foot store that opened in March at 229 E. Main St. had been losing an estimated $2,500 a week. The $50,000 in a reserve fund has been spent and the $400,000 loaned to the co-op to buy shelving, refrigeration and freezer units and inventory, needs to be repaid to a bank.

Only about a third of the co-op's members shop at the store, and those who do spend, on average, about $20 a visit. The store does not have a meat counter or deli.

Estis said she has seen an increase in business since the co-op made a public appeal to its members last month. More members have also asked about volunteering and are making suggestions for products. The store's exterior has also been painted.

"We hope that anyone who has shopped here in the past and were disappointed will give us another chance after Thursday," said Myra Hajny, the co-op's board president.

-----

To see more of The Wisconsin State Journal, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.wisconsinstatejournal.com.

Copyright (c) 2008, The Wisconsin State Journal

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

A service of YellowBrix, Inc.