The closure of Earth's General Store last year left a gap in the lives of people who prefer to shop sustainably by refilling their containers with groceries and personal items.

However, the former owner of Earth's General Store, as well as three former store employees, are opening Earth's Refillery Coop in the Piazza on 95th Street and 108th Avenue this summer. It will occupy the space where La Dolce Vita was formerly located. The crew took possession of the space in early April and hope to open later this spring or early summer.

Michael Kalmanovitch, one of the coop members, was already familiar with the McCauley community due to family connections, and even considered relocating Earth's General Store in the neighbourhood at various times.

“Because of the institution that is the Italian Centre we figured this would be an excellent complementary addition to this cluster of businesses and community groups,” says Kalmanovitch.

Earth's General Store was started by Kalmanovitch in 1991 and was located on Whyte Avenue. He left the business in 2022, transferring it to a non-profit that was created to keep the store going. It was ultimately unsuccessful. The store closed in September 2024.

However, this time the operations of the store will take an alternative approach. “The business is a multi-stakeholder coop which means that one type of share will be owned by the workers, and another type will be available for consumer members to purchase. We are a horizontal organization - no bosses,” says Kalmanovitch.

Earth's Refillery Coop will offer kitchen and pantry food items in bulk, such as grains, legumes, flour, dried fruits, nuts, seeds, herbs, and spices along with bulk liquid food items like olive oil, maple syrup, and tamari. In addition, it will also offer refilling options for household goods and cleaners like laundry and dish detergent, and personal care items like shampoo, conditioner, and essential oils.

While the store will have a small number of clean donated containers (which will be sanitized), customers are encouraged to bring their own clean containers and bags. “Our goal is to reduce packaging and food waste. People buy their products in a reused container, which they bring to be refilled,” Kalmanovitch explains. 

The refillery is only one part of the business, and will occupy one area of the building. The other area will be a coffee roaster and cafe. Kalmanovitch and company have been roasting coffee in-house since 2004.

“I wholeheartedly believe that a community of people want and need what EGS offered - an opportunity to reuse and refill, an alternative business model, a community hub, an alternate vibe,” says Kalmanovitch.

For more information, visit earthsrefillerycoop.ca.

Paula E. Kirman is the Editor of Boyle McCauley News.