The Clintonville Community Market Co-Op, citing changes in the organic and natural-food business, will be closing its doors within the next month. The board that oversees the co-op recently voted to close the business at 200 Crestview Rd. There will be a meeting to field questions at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Crestview Presbyterian Church, 350 E. Tulane Rd.

The Clintonville Community Market Co-Op, citing changes in the organic and natural-food business, will be closing its doors within the next month.

The board that oversees the co-op recently voted to close the business at 200 Crestview Rd. There will be a meeting to field questions at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Crestview Presbyterian Church, 350 E. Tulane Rd.

A letter sent to members said that the business will close �no later than� Oct. 31.

�This is a very emotional and difficult decision, but it is the responsible action to take in order to insure (sic) all the employees, local suppliers and other vendors that have supported us for many years will receive their final payments,� the letter sent Wednesday said.

The community co-op started in 1998 as a branch of a previous co-op, King Avenue Natural Foods Co-operative in the Short North. Initially, there was a bakery and bookstore along with a natural-foods operation.

During the past decade, more competitors � particularly the larger conventional chains � have entered the organic and natural-products arena.

�This changing marketplace has created a decline in sales for our co-op that has intensified over the last two years, and the trend continues,� the statement said.

The Clintonville Community Market did put cost controls in place during the past two years that reduced purchasing and labor costs, but sales and profits continued to drop.

�We cannot remain solvent in this situation,� the letter said. �The ethical and responsible act is to close the store.�

jwoods@dispatch.com

@Woodsnight