A Grand Forks firearms business will take over the former Amazing Grains Natural Food Cooperative space.
Brothers Firearm Shop has posted banners in the windows of the retail space at 214 DeMers Ave., with one sign saying, “Coming soon!” It plans to be open by Jan. 1, said Brad Brenamen, who owns the gun shop with Travis Chiasson and Adam Pribula.
The Amazing Grains food co-op closed its store in May after disappointing sales over several years. The business started selling organic food and natural products in 1972. It was in different locations around the city until it moved to its downtown shop in 2000.
The 3,500-square-foot space was put up for lease at $3,700 a month, according to the website of real estate broker Dakota Commercial.
The co-op does not have an opinion on the development, Chairwoman Amanda Gefroh said.
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“We had chosen to move out of the space, and so it was up to the landlords to find a fit for what they needed,” she said.
Brothers opened in 2015, first at 1911 S. Washington St. before moving to its current location at 1907 S. Washington St. That location will stay open with its downtown location, Brenamen said.
The owners also plan to open a downtown East Grand Forks location next year.
When asked why the business wanted to open a downtown location, Brenamen said, “Why not?”
Future of co-op The co-op still is in the process of deciding whether it should pursue another business venture, but it could be months before the results of a survey gauging that are released, Gefroh said.
The survey was opened to the public, asking questions on whether it should open another grocery store or deli. The survey ended in July, and the co-op is finalizing a report with possible updates in the coming months.
“At this point, we are just really looking at what is feasible,” she said, adding the co-op is evaluating several options.
There are 1,500 members in the co-op, a drop from previous estimates of 1,800.
