FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Tacoma Food Co-op Contact Person: Corrinne Henderson, Board President Telephone Number: 360-431-2038 Email Address: tacomafoodcoop@gmail.com Web site address: tacomafoodcoop.com Tacoma Food Co-Op Completes Successful Membership Drive Store purchase offer for Neighborhood Market location pending February 28th marked the end of a successful three-week membership drive for the Tacoma Food Co-op. The business hoped to recruit 100 new members and raise $10,000 in earnest money for the purchase of the Neighborhood Market location on 6th Avenue. “The response we saw during the drive is real proof that Tacoma wants and needs a co-op," says Corrinne Henderson, Board  President. "Our goal was to bring our membership up to 400, but the drive was so successful we surpassed that goal and now have 470 members with new memberships are coming in daily. The momentum is incredible." The new memberships allowed TFC to present $10,000 in earnest money to John Loesch, current owner of Neighborhood Market. Loesch has not yet accepted the offer and is currently evaluating another late offer from a different buyer. "John has been great to work with and though we were surprised we are not discouraged,” says Henderson, “Neighborhood Market is a great opportunity, but it’s not the only one. The co-op’s strength lies in its members, not in its address.” She says the board is exploring other locations with up to 10,000 square feet and off-street parking. Tacoma Food Co-op seeks to open a cooperatively-run store providing local, fresh, natural and organic foods and increase the access to healthy food for everyone in the community. ###