How about a COSTCO to replace market?

[Guest]

Ahh! that would be worthwhile. A good variety of goods although membership fee. This side of island needs a Costco. Something of quality not typical crap goods. Nice bakery, lots of different retail items. It would be a breath of fresh air to consumers

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[EightFingers]

What market? Malama?

[terracore]

http://www.punaweb.org/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17563

[Tink]

Costco has probably crunched the numbers and the overhead costs of another building, plus land purchase on the Hilo side does not work for them at this time. If the population on the island doubles ( oh Lordy, not that!!), they might consider it.
Best thing to do if you like shopping there is to get with a neighbor or friend and carpool it into Kona and load up. When Living in a rural town we did this whenever we would go into "the big city" to shop there, including getting grocery lists from the k#363;puna to shop for them, making it much more cost effective for all.

Community begins with Aloha

[Punatic007]

If we are dreaming I vote for Trader Joes!

[Guest]

YES good one actually! Trader Joes would fit into community alot better

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[shockwave rider]

Trader Joe's yuck! Overpriced prepackaged produce from Mexico and cheap rotgut wine mixed in with "natural" junk food.

A food coop with lots of locally produced foods and produce would be a great fit for Puna though. Working members could get the biggest discount, paying members a smaller one, and guest members (tourists) could pay inflated prices and underwrite the overhead for everyone else. It could support local micro businesses and small farmers while feeding the rest of us, what about calling it PunaFoods?

[Punatic007]

Yes better or shall I say more idyllic shockwave, but what's with the caste system pricing? Let's treat the tourists with aloha, and give them same as local pricing. Aloha for all!

[Mimosa]

Dream on - Never no way not gonna happen.
COSTCO and or Trader Joes are mainland big box stores of shipped in crap.
COSTCO Kona did a study and more than 50percent of their sales come from Puna.Plus the county will not allow them this side due to sewer issues.
If you want this so badly,make an appointment with Billy K our wonderful Mayor and see what he thinks?

Or move closer to your fave store OR carpool with friends.

Some years pas,maybe 12 or 15 the county council said NO.

Why can you not just car pool with friends and shop there your own .

Or if so important for you,borrow the several 10s of millions and open your own outlet in Shipmans but the powers at be,will never allow it

When people from mainland move here,they want it just like where they came from.

Live simply and shop local,this is not mainland.

Dream on.

[shockwave rider]

quote:

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Originally posted by Punatic007

Yes better or shall I say more idyllic shockwave, but what's with the caste system pricing? Let's treat the tourists with aloha, and give them same as local pricing. Aloha for all!

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That is how most coops work, working members earn their discounts by working, paying members choose to pay instead of working, and people just passing through pay full freight, which is still usually less than a for profit grocery of the same size.

Not a caste system but TANSTAAFL: there ain't no such thing as a free lunch. Everyone covers the overhead with cash or labor, nobody pockets a profit.