Rachel Battles, a worker-owner of Happy Earth Cleaning, said her staff’s desire to preserve the business’ democratic culture, commitment to eco-friendly cleaning practices and benefits for employees were all reasons that drove them to create a co-op in 2020 after the previous owners decided to move on, and that the conditions are similar for May Day.
“None of us really had any experience prior to that even with running a business, so we had to figure out a lot of stuff on our own,” Battles said. “We’re super glad to be able to help other coops that are kind of starting up. … One of the great things about coops is just having that sense of community. It’s like a co-op principle to help other co-ops, so you’re automatically in a little network of other businesses.”
Rooting for the campaign is Frank Bellanger, who lives near the cafe and has been frequenting it for nearly 25 years. He called it the neighborhood homeroom for coffee lovers, a source of good food at affordable prices and an anchor for other businesses along Bloomington. The best mornings are when parents drop in before taking their kids to the nearby day care and the cafe is overrun with 4-year-olds having milk and cookies and the cafe practically hums with happy chaos, Bellanger said.
“I can’t tell you the countless times that I’ve gone there and had breakfast or my favorite drink, the Arnold Palmer that they make with the hibiscus tea and the wonderful lemonade that’s always got kind of a unique flavor,” he said. “You’ve got all the hipsters there and the hippies and, you know, the old folks and the old hippies, and it’s a multiracial place, too. It’s always been the community gathering spot, and it’s kind of kept us all honest with with each other, I think.”
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