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What's the Board Been Up To? |
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| The KCG Board has been hard at work as we move steadily toward opening our community-owned grocery store. Throughout the winter, the Board has been meeting twice monthly via Zoom to keep momentum strong and ensure key decisions are moving forward. As always, Board meetings are open to Member-Owners, and we welcome your participation. Meetings this month will be at 7:00 PM on Monday, February 9 and 23 — reply to this email if you would like the Zoom link to attend. Additionally, teams of Board members and volunteers continue to meet throughout the month to progress on key workstreams. For instance, behind the scenes, our Store Team is completing all required permitting documentation for submission to Kennett Township. The next step will be to solicit and review bids from general contractors, select the best fit, and begin renovation work. If all goes as planned, we hope to begin construction this spring and stay on track to open before summer. In the meantime, before renovations begin, we’re excited to invite you inside the space for a Sneak Peek of the future Kennett Community Grocer store! 
✨ Sneak Peek: Come see our future store! ✨ 📍 629 E. Cypress Street, Kennett Square
🗓 Sunday, February 15
⏰ 11:00 AM–2:00 PM
Save the date on your Google Calendar here
This is your chance to:
Walk through the storeand see the plans before construction begins See early plans for our new logo and exterior signage Share your ideas, questions, and feedback with Board members Meet our new Store Manager (official announcement coming soon 👀)
We can’t wait to gather your input as we prepare to bring this space to life — together. |
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| | | | We’re thrilled to share that we’ve now reached 25% of our $200,000 goal for pre-opening and construction-related costs — a significant jump from last month. This progress has been made possible through individual donations, Chili Cook-off sponsorships, and grant funding. There is still important work ahead, and we invite you to continue supporting this effort in whatever way feels right for you. Every contribution helps move us closer to opening the doors. You can support building and opening the store by: Making a direct donation Sponsoring a piece of store equipment Purchasing a ticket to the Chili Cook-off Becoming a Chili Cook-off sponsor
No amount is too small — and every action makes a difference. 💛 Thank you for being part of this exciting moment in KCG’s journey. We’re building something special, and we’re so glad you’re with us. |
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| | | | | Our community has now surpassed 520 Member-Owner households! Each one represents a neighbor who believes that Kennett deserves a grocery store rooted in local food, shared ownership, and long-term resilience. As we move from planning into building, our needs are evolving. Membership remains the foundation of our co-op — it signals strength to funders and ensures a vibrant customer base on opening day — but this next phase depends on deeper community participation. Here’s how Member-Owners and supporters can help right now: Make a donation — to support equipment, build-out, and a strong, debt-light opening Volunteer — to help with events, outreach, and store prep Spread the word — invite a friend to become a Member-Owner or attend an event, and share/interact with our posts on social media Show up — attend board meetings and store previews as they begin
Everyone will be welcome to shop at Kennett Community Grocer when we open. But Member-Owners are helping shape something bigger: a store built with the community, not just for it.
💛 Thank you for being part of this growing movement — and for helping carry it forward. |
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| The hottest night of the year — KCG’s second annual Chili Cook-off Fundraiser — is still more than a month away, and already tickets are over halfway sold out! The event promises to be a flavorful night of friendly competition and community spirit, with proceeds going toward the $57,000 that will need to be raised to cover the store’s first six months of operating costs. Sample chilis prepared by talented chefs from your favorite local spots — Cafe Emis, the Kennett High School culinary program, Letty’s Tavern, Mary Pat’s Provisions, The Naked Olive, Sweet Amelia’s, and Taste of Puebla! You can also enjoy additional food options, dancing, and more! 🎟️ Don’t miss out — get your ticket today at KCGrocer.com/chili! |
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| | | | 🔥 Thank You to Our Spicy Sponsors! 🔥 |
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| | We are incredibly grateful to the generous local businesses, organizations, and individuals who have already stepped up to sponsor the 2026 Kennett Community Grocer Chili Cook-off. Your support is helping bring this community-favorite event to life while directly funding the work needed to open our community-owned grocery store. While our initial sponsorship deadline has passed, there is still time to get involved. Additional event-level sponsorships, general donations, and raffle basket contributions are still being accepted. Sponsors and donors who join us during this final window will be recognized at the event. Every contribution helps strengthen the success of this event and moves us closer to opening the doors of Kennett Community Grocer. Thank you for investing in a store built by the community, for the community. 🌱 👉 Learn more or contribute at KCGrocer.com/sponsor |
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| | | 🥣 Meet the Next 2 Competing Chefs |
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| | Chef Anjel Fonseca from The Naked Olive began his culinary journey in his mother’s kitchen in Guadalajara, Mexico, where his curiosity about food and its “chemistry” first took root. After coming to the United States, he learned English through VHS tapes and went on to attend Johnson & Wales Culinary School in Denver. Never afraid to explore new flavors and cultures, he worked at the Hyatt as a chef and in the local mushroom industry before joining The Naked Olive in 2021, a then-new BYOB in Kennett Square. He has a talent for Mediterranean flavors and believes that food should be natural, made from scratch, and soulful—because dining isn’t just eating, it’s an experience to be enjoyed slowly, together. |
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| | Letty’s Tavern is a warm, welcoming place where everyone really does know your name. Hector Roque is part of this vibe, offering a welcoming smile when he is working the front of the restaurant and a creativity and passion when food prepping. Hector’s love of cooking began young, learning from his brother while helping ensure his family enjoyed wholesome meals. He is largely self-taught and “fueled by audiobooks and podcasts.” For his chili submission, Hector will follow a deep personal mantra that it isn't perfection he is after, just the next version, the one a little better than the one before. |
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| | Be Part of the Action — Volunteer with Us! |
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| Want to help bring this year’s Chili Cook-off to life? Our planning team has truly been “crushing it,” but we’re still in need of helping hands to support preparing raffle/silent auction items, event setup, and cleanup. 👉 Email KCG.Chili.Cookoff@gmail.com to get involved. We’re a fun bunch! |
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| | | |  Kennett Community Grocer was recently featured in The Philadelphia Inquirer, shining a regional spotlight on our nearly decade-long effort to bring a community-owned grocery store to Kennett Square.
The article highlighted KCG as a unique cooperative model focused on supporting local farms, strengthening the regional food economy, and creating a welcoming gathering place for the community at our future home on East Cypress Street. Since the article ran, we’ve heard from food co-ops and community organizers across the country who reached out to share encouragement and excitement about what we’re building here in southern Chester County. It’s a meaningful reminder that the work happening in Kennett Square is part of a broader movement — and that our community-driven approach is resonating well beyond our borders. Most of all, this moment belongs to the nearly 520 Member-Owners, volunteers, farmers, donors, and supporters who have helped carry KCG from idea to reality. Thank you for believing in this vision and helping show what’s possible when a community comes together around food, land, and shared values. 📖 Read the full article here:
New grocery stores are coming to Chester County. Here’s what and where.
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