NEDERLAND — Right now, the elements are presenting a perfect storm of fiscal woes to Nederland businesses.

Just four months ago a fire ravaged its downtown communal hub and shopping center. Roaring winds in December resulted in a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) that lasted 96 hours. The recent lack of precipitation has caused a drought in tourism.

All of this, combined with a shaky economic foundation—both locally and nationally—has fatigued local wallets, leading to fewer boots-on-the-ground when it comes to spreading that local love. 

One of the many local businesses caught in the middle of that storm is one of the oldest still operating: Mountain People’s Co-Op.

Since 1979, the Co-Op has been a fixture in Nederland, providing locally-sourced natural foods for all diets and lifestyles, while operating traditionally—where customers are invited to become “part owners”—but also remaining keen to modern trends and innovative in regard to customer experience. 

But the landslide of misfortune that has befallen the state of Nederland’s commerce has hit the Co-Op considerably harder, as a suffocating national economy has brought product sourcing and supply chain issues, and the last PSPS by Xcel Energy caused inventory loss that was only exacerbated by unplanned equipment failure.

The 72-hour-long shutoff in Spring 2024 taught the Co-Op many valuable lessons about Xcel’s PSPS strategy, as the unexpected outage cost the Co-Op a great loss of inventory along with thousands of dollars in potential revenue.

Then the reality of old mountain real estate reared its head as the community grocery attempted to mitigate the PSPS problem with the safe and legal installation of a generator. That proved to be a much more expensive problem than initially budgeted. 

When Xcel initiated the last PSPS, back in December, 2025, the Co-Op again worked feverishly in the dark, attempting to save as much of their inventory as possible. The power came back on a few days later, but unfortunately not for the Co-Op’s walk-in—their efforts during the outage were rendered fruitless, as it seemed fated that the store would lose their inventory.

“We lost everything in the walk-in, and most of our produce,” General Manager Lisa Davis said, “and without having the funds to just replenish it all overnight it’s something that I’ve had to do slowly, but we’re getting there—it’s looking better.”

“It hasn’t been easy, but please know this: we are committed to you and to keeping our shelves stocked with the best we can offer,” Assistant Manager Shayna Anne Beckham-Starr wrote to customers in a post on the Co-Op’s official Facebook page.   

“The bright side? We’re moving forward, problem-solving, and staying focused on what matters most—serving our community with quality food and friendly faces.”

Operationally, the Co-Op caters to their vitally important local customer base by stocking their shelves with the best, freshest, and most cost-effective products they can source, and morphing their inventory according to their loyal customers’ ever-evolving preferences and tastes.

However, by presenting the lovingly crafted goods of local purveyors, the Co-Op also serves as an outreach to tourists in showcasing local culture. But in the winter and early shoulder months, tourists only come with the falling of snow—and Colorado is currently experiencing its lowest snowpack since 1987. 

Those in charge at the Co-Op are shouldering the burdens of this elemental storm, working with current purveyors to source quality alternatives to those favorite foods that have recently gone missing from shelves because of the supply chain problems.

“I want to know what products people want and need, especially as we’re restocking from our losses,” Davis said, noting that customers are always welcome to leave their suggestions and write in their special orders directly at the store. “What’s most helpful for me as a purchaser is tell me the things that you’re going to buy on a regular basis, the basic necessities that you rely on, your favorite brands.” 

Additionally, plans are currently being crafted to bolster their business model and present creative new experiences for their loyal locals by enhancing that true Nederland-centric sense of community—something which has been fractured since October 9, though it is still Ned Strong.

“Whenever things change, people feel this loss of being together, and so I try to bring more interactivity and try to get people to post with me on Facebook,” Beckham-Starr said, “because we stand for community, we serve the community, and it’s what we’re still trying to do, even with the restrictions that we have.”  

And, as was previously stated, the Co-Op truly serves that communal function through its sustainable and cyclical business model. Though it operates as a for-profit business, those traditional values of a customer-driven grocery still flow through the veins of Nederland’s own Co-Op.

Customers can earn incentives, such as discounts and personalized promotions, by becoming a member, or can even help shape the administrative and executive functions of the business by becoming a part-owner and joining the Board of Directors. 

Membership for a household of two adults and any number of children is $30 a month; those who are 60 years or older are eligible to pay the price of $12 a year for membership. 

Those on the Board of Directors serve two-year terms, and attend monthly meetings at the Nederland Community Library. These are generally held on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m., with meeting times and locations posted at the Co-Op itself and on their website.

The operational structure and administrative processes and other inner workings of the Co-Op are primarily discussed during these meetings. Only members may attend meetings, and only Directors get to vote on agenda items.

“We’re all together in this,” Beckham-Starr said about the loss, tension, and confusion felt by the community in the wake of home-hitting disasters and in the midst of national strife. She concludes that through it all, the Co-Op was also still here as more than just a grocery.   

“We don’t just want to see you shop, we want to see your smiles too.” 

The Mountain People’s Co-Op is located at 30 East 1st Street, and is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day. For more information, including on member pricing, benefits, and how to either become a member or join the Board of Directors, visit: https://www.mtnpeoplescoop.com or call 303-258-7500.