Wheatsville Co-op Austin, TX

[Dan Gillotte <gm AT wheatsville.coop>]

Hello Wheatsville friends,

I'm fit to burst with exciting news this week! Here's what's in this e-mail:

Wheatsville: Best Neighborhood Grocery!
VOte!
Survey!
Owner Gathering Movie Night Oct. 23rd
Owner Appreciation Day Oct. 20th!

Let's get to it!

Thanks to your votes, Wheatsville was named Best Neighborhood Grocery in this week's Best of Austin reader's poll from the Chronicle!!! Woo hoo! (We tied with our friends at the Fresh Plus stores.) Thanks to all of you who voted to help YOUR Neighborhood grocery win recognition! I'm also very pleased that our architect, Michael Antenora received a Critic's Pick as Best Designer of a New Austin and our Landscape designer TBG Partners won one for Best Landscape Design. (See the end of the e-mail for the full listings.)

Election and survey happening NOW!

We've got a few cool things happening right now that you can participate in from your computer.
You can vote in the board of directors/ community action Wednesday/ boycott election that is going on right now! Information about the election and handy-dandy on-line voting is ready now! Http://www.wheatsville.coop/election

If you're an owner of Wheatsville, we want to know what you think about shopping at and participating in your co-op! Please complete our on-line survey http://tinyurl.com/2245x4 You could win one of four $250 gift cards!

But wait! There's more fun Co-op Month stuff coming your way!
The Wheatsville Fall Owner Gathering Movie Night is Tuesday Oct. 23rd from 6:30-9:30 at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar! If you want to attend, you must get your free tickets in advance at the registers beginning Oct. 15th. Two free tickets per owner. 
The program includes an opportunity to meet the board and board candidates, an expansion/ renovation project update with the architects and contractor and a cool feature length documentary called Independent America. 

Independent America follows a reporter couple  as they travel across the US using just back roads and only "Mom and Pop" and independent businesses. Check out the trailer and find out more: http://www.independentamerica.net/

In addition to the fun program, all ticket holders will get their choice of some appetizers and a drink. So, make a plan to get your tickets next week and come on out to movie night and owner gathering!

Seating is limited, so please plan to get your ticket beginning Oct. 15th!

Owner Appreciation Day!
Our next Owner Appreciation Day (formerly known as Member Appreciation Day) is Saturday Oct. 20th! Owners get a 10% discount off of all purchases all day long! People can join on the day and still receive a discount, so get your friends that haven't yet become Wheatsville Owners to come on in on the 20th and join up! We'll have samples throughout the store from 12-4pm!


Whew! That's a lot of action. I hope that you have a great week and that we get to see you at our upcoming events!

Dan Gillotte
Wheatsville GM and e-mail guy

Best Neighborhood Grocery: TIE: Fresh Plus, Wheatsville
It’s no secret that Austinites love organic foods, local produce, and international specialties. They also love the local groceries that bring them these items. Fresh Plus focuses on specialty items and freshly prepared snacks while also stocking traditional fare, and Wheatsville Co-op emphasizes organic, natural foods and made-to-order sandwiches without forgetting its customers’ familiar favorites. Both offer great delis and service – no wonder the neighbors heart them!

Best Designer of a New Austin: Michael Antenora
For Michael Antenora, a building isn't just a collection of rooms and walls or a controversial and confrontational statement by the architect. It's an expression of community and society. His innovative blending of stone, steel, and glass has given Austin some of its most quietly iconic structures, from the bold overhang of the University Federal Credit Union on Brodie to the modernist frontier-influenced SoCo House on Eva Street. Yet for all his bold new designs, his sensitive restorations have saved grand projects like Penn Field and repurposed crumbling edifices like 3423 Guadalupe, home of the award-winning Zen Japanese restaurant. For 10 years, his commitment to buildings that are publicly and artistically accessible has defined Austin.

Best Landscape Design: TBG Partners
Ask anyone what they love about Austin, and they're sure to rattle off odes to our parks and wide-open spaces. For that, we thank this landscape-design team. The brains behind the beauty of the new Town Lake Park, Dell Children's Medical Center, both the Capitol and Laguna Gloria's historic restorations, and Hyatt Regency Lost Pines (two words: lazy river), these folks take the responsibility of stewardship seriously, volunteering time to city cleanup and conservation. Keeping Austin Weird is our job; keeping Austin's landscape gorgeous, green, lush, and at the forefront of intelligent design? That's proudly theirs.