A Major Step Forward for Bloomingdale’s Community-Owned Grocery

The effort to restore dependable food access in Bloomingdale has reached an important new milestone.

The Bloomingdale Development Association has executed a purchase agreement for the historic Cardinal Club building at 109 N. Van Buren Street. Financing has been secured, the necessary inspections have been completed, and the project is now awaiting closing.

Once the transaction is complete, the property is intended to become a permanent community asset and the future home of the Bloomingdale Community Co-Op.

WHY THE CARDINAL CLUB?

Side-by-side architectural sketches of the historic Cardinal Club building at 109 N. Van Buren Street. The left panel shows its current appearance; the right presents a conceptual enhancement with restored windows, colorful murals, striped awnings, a cultural center, and a Bloomingdale Community Co-Op entrance.

The Cardinal Club is a prominent two-story building in the center of downtown Bloomingdale. Its size and location create an opportunity to bring a community-owned grocery and several related activities together under one roof.

The current vision includes space for a community-owned grocery cooperative, local and regional food distribution, a community kitchen and food-hub activities, educational and cultural programming, and opportunities for local producers and small enterprises.

The Bloomingdale Development Association would steward the building and its community-development mission. The Bloomingdale Community Co-Op would be organized as a separate, member-owned enterprise responsible for developing and operating the grocery business.

Keeping those roles distinct allows the building to remain focused on long-term community benefit while giving local residents democratic control over the grocery operation.

THE CO-OP HAS ALSO BEEN FILED

On July 20, the Articles of Incorporation for the Bloomingdale Community Co-Op were submitted to the State of Michigan.

The filing establishes the foundation for a nonprofit consumer cooperative organized on a nonstock membership basis. Once its governance documents are completed, the Co-Op is intended to operate according to a simple democratic principle: one member, one vote.

The state filing is currently awaiting acceptance. The organizing group must also complete its bylaws, confirm its initial board, establish its membership procedures, and develop a sound operating and financial plan before memberships formally begin.

JOIN US WEDNESDAY EVENING

The next Bloomingdale Community Co-Op workshop will be held Wednesday, July 22, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at Bloomingdale Communications in the Community Room in Bloomingdale, Michigan.

The workshop is open to community members who want to learn about the project, offer ideas, or help develop the Co-Op.

We will discuss the Cardinal Club purchase agreement and upcoming closing, the Co-Op’s incorporation and governance structure, the initial board and bylaws, community grocery needs and priorities, ways residents can participate, and the next planning milestones.

You do not need previous cooperative experience to attend. We need residents who understand the community, care about food access, and are willing to help shape a practical local solution.

BUILDING IT TOGETHER

The loss of Bloomingdale’s grocery store created an immediate challenge, but it also created an opportunity to build something rooted in local ownership and long-term community benefit.

A successful grocery cannot be built by one person or one organization. It will require shoppers, volunteers, producers, business partners, board members, and neighbors working together. Wednesday’s workshop is another opportunity to turn that shared vision into a workable plan.

Please join us, bring your questions, and invite others who may want to participate.

Wednesday, July 22, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at Bloomingdale Communications in the Community Room.

We look forward to seeing you there.

The Cardinal Club purchase remains subject to completion of closing. The Bloomingdale Community Co-Op’s state incorporation filing is pending acceptance.