St. Peter Food Co-op

St. Peter, MN | Commercial

Overview

This adaptive reuse project saw a dilapidated former car dealership become a fresh and inviting food co-op and deli.


Opportunity

St. Peter Food Co-op and Deli outgrew its former location, but an abandoned car dealership in town provided an opportunity for it to expand.

Solution

Located in historic downtown St. Peter, Minnesota, ISG designed the adaptive reuse of the abandoned Nielson Chevrolet Auto Dealership into the St. Peter Food Co-op and Deli after outgrowing its previous facility. With the help of ISG, St. Peter transformed a dated, time-worn, and inherently grimy building meant to service and sell vehicles into a clean, efficient, and health-conscious retail and dining environment.

Sustainability and wise resourcing were key considerations while creating a space as earth and health conscious as a co-op. The adaptive reuse of the former auto dealership was an ideal, sustainable option that proved to be beneficial in many ways. The large, open interior space worked well for a grocery store layout with easy truck loading and access, and the original terrazzo showroom floor was preserved and restored for classroom and meeting space, as well as the dining room area. During the renovation, great efforts were taken to utilize as many local and recycled materials as possible and to make the building sustainable and energy-efficient.

The new, 10,000-square-foot location offers more local produce and dairy options, organic products, an expanded deli, a new teaching kitchen, and larger area for dining and community meetings. The additional space allowed the Co-op to offer more education and class offerings, enriching the local community. On the exterior, the Co-op provides outdoor seating with a trellis, space for an on-site garden, bicycle parking, and space for outdoor events.


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