Wheatsville Co-op to Close Guadalupe Store, Expand to Two Fresh Plus Locations

Wheatsville Food Co-op is expanding with two new locations in Allandale and Hyde Park, acquired from Fresh Plus, while preparing to close its original Guadalupe Street store by 2026. The co-op aims to reach a broader audience while preserving its character, including the iconic Mangiasaurus.

Bree Whitehead, Wheatsville Co-op's Director of Capital Strategy, emphasized the co-op's vision: "We want to be the local destination for people that we have been serving, as well as new people that we can reach."

The legacy of the Guadalupe spot and its Mangiasaurus

The Guadalupe location, opened in 1981, has been a community cornerstone. "It has been through all iterations of Wheatsville. It is amazing," Whitehead said. Mangiasaurus, a dinosaur mascot originally from Mangia Pizza, will continue at one of the new locations or the South Lamar store. "This icon that's been on that drag for so long was no longer going to be a part of the drag," Whitehead noted.

Expanding the co-op mission

The Fresh Plus locations will transition to Wheatsville in April 2026. The co-op prioritizes community benefits, with profits going back to members rather than corporations. "Instead of giving profits back to corporations, we want to be able to give it to the people," Whitehead said. No staff layoffs are planned, with all Guadalupe employees offered positions at other locations.

The co-op is raising funds through community investments, offering shares at $100 each with a $2,000 minimum. The Guadalupe store's lease ends in late 2026, with a smooth transition planned. "Absolutely," Whitehead said, "that's one thing that our community can count on is that Wheatsville will remain the same."