A couple of months from opening
With Radish on track to open Mid-May, here are a few updates on what we’ve been up to, along with more information on the farm stop model.
With how busy we are this is going to be brief and casual.
Looking forward to seeing you all soon!
Producers working with Radish
I’ve connected with so many inspiring producers over the last several months. Here’s the list of who has signed up to sell through Radish so far. Know anyone that you think would be a great fit? Send them to the producer application on our website!
This is a very energizing time. The to do list is long, but so is the list of what we’ve accomplished. Here’s a taste of what we’ve been up to:
Growing our team:
Hanes (pictured above, right) has joined our team as Store Manager! She brings a deep love of food, and will be leading our cafe, managing the team, and overseeing day to day operations. She’s a joy to work with and is already playing a big role in shaping the future of Radish.
We have hired three more staff, and are in the process of interviewing more. If you’d like to learn about future opportunities, fill out the form here!
Building Radish:
We are wrapping up selecting finishes (tile, countertop, counter face, etc.). Paint colors are next up on the list!
We have a POS system selected, we have ordered all of our major equipment, and the smallwares order has been placed.
Chris painted a temporary sign, that is now hung up in the window on the south side of the building— check it out!
We placed a merch order! T-shirts, tote bags, and stickers are on their way!
Cafe menu planning is done: we’ll be offering rotating specialty beverages, rotating drip, and classic espresso beverages. Did I mention local tea?!
Kowalski’s donated three produce displays to Radish which we picked up last week— huge thank you to Kowalski’s!
Chris recently picked up several butcher blocks off Facebook Marketplace which will serve as our tabletops.
Producers:
We have 50 producers signed up, and counting. It’s been fun connecting with so many incredible businesses and seeing the vision for the store come together.
My friend Sam and I are in the process of creating a page on our website that will feature all of the producers we are working with. Thank you Sam!
Community Connections:
Racket wrote an article sharing Radish’s story. It has helped expand our following and build more community connections. I’m so grateful to be part of this community, and have the opportunity to get to know all of you.
I held the first advisory board meeting a few weeks ago. Seven mentors from wide ranging professional backgrounds are helping get Radish off the ground and keep us on track.
Selecting tile
Picking up produce displays
What is Radish Farm Stop?
Opening this spring in Southwest Minneapolis. It will be the first “farm stop” model of it’s kind in the state of Minnesota. Operating as a year-round everyday farmers’ market and cafe, we aim to improve market access for local producers and small businesses, while connecting customers to delicious local products!
What is a Farm Stop?
A Farm Stop is a year-round market that combines the abundance of a farmers' market with the convenience of a grocery store. This is done through a unique consignment model: Farmers and producers bring their goods to the Farm Stop, set their own prices, and earn 70% of every sale (compared to only 15–40% at traditional grocery stores!).
The farm stop name indicates that the store can be a brief stop in the busy days of our farms and customers. Farmers will always get free beverages when they visit the market and they can often stop and pause for a bit of conversation and community. After farmers deliver, we step in and act as stewards of their products, taking care of the marketing, merchandising, and retail on their behalf.
In this way, we are able to make it easier for customers to support their local food economy, shop seasonally, and help farmers spend more time doing what they love: creating, preparing, and eating delicious food. We are working on building a community hub where people can come and support their local food system everyday.
Thank you for reading!