Main St. Store Is Remodeled - Co-Operative Society Renovates Facilities

Main St. Store Is Remodeled

Co-Operative Society Renovates Facilities

The 700-some member families of the Ann Arbor Co-Operative Society, Inc., have a thoroughly modernized store at 637 S. Main St. in which shop, following a large-scale remodeling and renovating project.

The remodeling program has completely changed the first-floor front of the 50-year old building. The centrally-located front walk-up steps have been removed and a new entrance area with two single doors incorporated into the north-west corner of the structure. One door faces Main St., the other, on the north side, opens upon the Co-Operative’s service station on adjoining property.

Inside stairs bring customers to the elevated level of the sales floor, which has been rearranged and re-equipped.

The major portion of the tile-faced front consists of an unusual four-sided display area, with six plate glass panes about eight by eight feet in size. The windows give unhampered view of about 300 square feet of fluorescent-lighted display space.

General Manager William R. Wright said that interior decorating is the only major item to be completed in the project.

A "reopening” celebration will held next week, Thursday through Saturday, despite the incomplete interior. Cooking shows and food and paint product demonstrations will highlight the three-day affair.

The current remodeling marks the society’s first major undertaking on the building since it was acquired in 1939. The society was organized in 1933 as a coal-buying cooperative, branching out into grocery and filling station operations in 1936.

Display Area Created In Remodeling

The Ann Arbor Co-Operative Store presents a new front, following a remodeling project which shifted the entrance from a central location in front to the northwest corner and installed a 330-foot display area. The window displays can be seen from three sides. The 700 member families of the Co-Operative Society will celebrate the completion of the project next Thursday, Friday and Saturday.