GREENSBORO, North Carolina — The Renaissance Community Co-Op owes nearly one million dollars to lenders.
Board members revealed the total to community owners Monday night.
The northeast Greensboro grocery store will close January 25th due to lagging sales.
Since the store opened in October 2016, it never turned a profit. By December 2018, the store lost more than $2 million dollars in sales.
In Monday's night meeting, board members congratulated the community for getting their idea of providing affordable and fresh food to their neighbors in an area lacking that for nearly 20 years off the ground.
"The fact that we were able to get as far as we did has really inspired folks, has really let folks know that there is power in community. There is power in standing next to your neighbor," RCC Board President, Roodline Volcy said.
For part owners like Ernestine Surgeon, the RCC meant everything.
"So I don't drive so for me to walk over here was a blessing," she said.
Surgeon will now have to go back to taking a bus or taxi to shop elsewhere. She says she has spent the last two years talking up the RCC, but admits it wasn't enough.
"We did our homework. We did our research. We did everything that we needed to do," Surgeon said. "The one thing that we did not anticipate was the people not seeing our vision the way we saw it."
Despite the closing of the store, Councilwoman Goldie Wells says there's a lot to be proud.
"I feel like this is the beginning of a real beginning. Even though the stores closing we have a lot to be thankful for," Councilwoman Wells said.