It’s no surprise that fans of the Jefferson Market are trying to keep it from closing. Jean Henry, owner, has written to Arbor Update in order to solicit some feedback about one possibility:
I am writing because several customers and friends have expressed an interest in exploring a community-owned model (though not strictly co-op model) for running Jefferson Market. I’ll be meeting next week with some people in the know to run some numbers on the idea.
I am interested in getting feedback from you, our loyal clientele, about it. Is it something you would support? Would you be willing to buy a stake in a community-run business? The community has always been emotionally invested in the business. This, for many reasons, has not always translated to money in the door—or at least not enough money. Would a financial stake change (and more comprehensive management) change that? Are there enough of you out there? That is really the big question.
I am of mixed feeling about the whole thing; there have been many ninth hour reprieves for the market, and I’m not sure I can steer this ship through yet another. Of course, if it’s a co-op, it wouldn’t be just me steering the ship, would it? And that’s really the point. I can no longer absorb singly the risks, costs and workload required. Would more captains make the ship run more true? Big questions.
Please respond the this query by email at jeanhenry at earthlink dot net.
If the numbers work and the response is good, I’ll hold an exploratory meeting sometime soon.
Yours, Jean Henry
(reprinted with permission)
I wonder if something like this could work for the Jeff?
An impassioned, final follow-up missive from Jean Henry over at ArborUpdate.
The upshot? Jean is interested in a sale, first and foremost; the co-op model is a possibility only if a sale does not go through. Here’s an excerpt:
“There has been a great deal of interest in the co-op idea I floated before you a few weeks ago…. so much so that it has hindered at least one potential buyer from making an offer to buy the business outright. Yikes! Obviously, I need to clarify my position visa-vi a Jefferson Market co-op: I am interested in pursuing the idea ONLY if an outright sale of the business doesn’t go through. There have been many parties interested in a business purchase; the idea that they might be scared off by the co-op idea is very disturbing. The goal in the end is for this business to continue to serve the community, one way or another.”