1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,120 Speaker 1: When the legendary Russo's Grocery closed in Watertown in twenty 2 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:05,440 Speaker 1: twenty one, it left a hole here that many people 3 00:00:05,519 --> 00:00:06,160 Speaker 1: still feel. 4 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:10,000 Speaker 2: Russo's closing was absolutely a catalyst for the creation of 5 00:00:10,039 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 2: the co op, and many of our early members came 6 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:14,800 Speaker 2: to us because they missed Russo's. 7 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:17,680 Speaker 1: That's Sam Garwin who leads to Charles River Food co Op. 8 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:20,479 Speaker 1: The store doesn't actually exist yet. They're basically trying to 9 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 1: replace Russo's with a better version. The co op model 10 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 1: has people signed up to be members, though anyone can shop. 11 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:29,400 Speaker 2: There, so we are going to source from local farms 12 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 2: and makers throughout New England. 13 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:32,920 Speaker 1: Sam says there's still a couple of years of actually 14 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:35,200 Speaker 1: opening a store, but this year will be about finding 15 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 1: a location. About a thousand people are signed up already. 16 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:40,200 Speaker 1: Sam says co ops can be successful in New England, 17 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 1: but they need a real runway to get off the ground. 18 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:44,200 Speaker 2: We are looking to raise eight to ten million dollars, 19 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 2: which is a significantly larger amount of money than some 20 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 2: of the other co ops that have tried to start 21 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 2: up in recent years. 22 00:00:50,479 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 1: Kyle Shaffele WBZ, Boston's news radio