# Gem City Market Seeks $25 Weekly Spending Pledge From 5,000 Members

> Gem City Market asks shoppers to commit $25 a week as the Dayton co-op says its financial runway is shorter than desired and membership growth continues.

- Published: 2026-10-15T01:38:35+00:00
- Section: Business
- Author: News Desk
- URL: https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-15/gem-city-market-weekly-spending-commitment
- Source: [Yahoo](https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/gem-city-market-asks-community-010600199.html)

## Key takeaways

- Gem City Market is asking shoppers to commit to spending $25 weekly to help the cooperative become more sustainable.
- The Dayton, Ohio market has roughly 5,000 members and about 30% of its customers are EBT cardholders.
- Board President Amaha Sellassie said the market's financial runway is shorter than longer at the current trajectory.

[Gem City Market](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/00mud8j/gem-city-market) is asking shoppers to commit to spending $25 a week at its store to help the cooperative become more sustainable. The Dayton, Ohio market, which has about 5,000 members, says its financial runway is shorter than desired, according to [Yahoo](https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/gem-city-market-asks-community-010600199.html). Board members have been asking community members to consider weekly patronage or becoming a member since the annual members meeting.

## Gem City Market's Push for Weekly Patronage

Gem City Market opened in 2021 at 324 Salem Ave. in a Northwest Dayton neighborhood that had been a food desert, where residents had limited access to affordable, nutritious food. The market is operated by a membership-based cooperative and overseen by a board. Board President Amaha Sellassie said the market offers more than fresh meat, fruit and vegetables, including a learning kitchen for cooking classes and space local food truck owners use to prepare food. A community room in the back can host meetings and events, which Sellassie described as a "third space" in West Dayton.

Asked about the market's financial health, Sellassie called it "nuanced." "The runway is shorter than longer at the current trajectory, but we're working with community partners and national partners to build more runway," he said. "Part of that, I think, is going to be conducive of the community working together to reimagine what the market can be."

Sellassie said community members have raised concerns about prices. Shelves carry items under a multi-tiered pricing model, with big brand names potentially more expensive but lower-cost options for the same product also in stock. He said Gem City Market is working toward more competitive prices compared with big box stores, while elevated supply and fuel costs and supply chain issues over the past few years remain obstacles. "It's important to have institutions in the community that are local and for the community," Sellassie said. "But I wanna say that we hear the need that we need to do better. We have amazing management and staff that are working to make that a reality."

The market's three-mile service area includes thousands of residents, and roughly 30% of its customers are EBT cardholders. Gem City Market has garnered roughly 5,000 members since its inception, and board members hope to boost memberships through the end of this year. "The store will be what it can be when we're working together," Sellassie said. "And we're increasing ways the community can participate in the process. That's the power of the co-op."

## Gem City Market's Membership and Revenue Profile

According to akta.pro [company records](https://akta.pro/company-data), Gem City Market is a private Dayton, Ohio-based grocery store founded in 2021 that sells meat, dairy products and fruit to local consumers. The same records list an employee headcount of 11-50 at a single retail location, a revenue estimate of $1 million-$5 million and a valuation estimate under $10 million.

## What Comes Next for Gem City Market

Board members aim to increase memberships through the end of this year, after the annual members meeting. The market continues to work with community and national partners on building more financial runway.

## Companies in this story

- [Gem City Market company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/00mud8j/gem-city-market) · website: https://gemcitymarket.com

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