Grassroots grocer: SunCoast Market Co-op makes final fundraising push before it can open – San Diego Union

After nearly a decade of grassroots efforts, SunCoast Market Co-op is close to opening San Diego County’s second co-op grocer.

SunCoast has secured $3.6 million from government grants, nonprofit funding, donations and equity from 1,370 owners to open the store in Imperial Beach. It still needs to raise an additional $300,000 before it can open, potentially this fall, in a city that currently has a small Mexican food market and a discount grocery store.

“We were a group of residents frustrated by the lack of healthy food options and grocery store options in our community,” said Kim Rivero Frink, SunCoast current board president, founding board member and owner. “Trader Joe’s and Sprouts weren’t coming to our community. We realized the only way to get the kind of store we wanted was to ope