[CharlotteSometimes]

It depends on what sort of CO-OP you're talking about. There used to be a CO-OP department store fairly close to me (just through the tunnel in Birkenhead) which had a food court. It also sold furniture, clothing, white goods, kitchen stuff, etc. It was like stepping back in time by a few decades as soon as you walked through the doors, so it wasn't much of a surprise to see it being closed down. People just don't shop that way any more. There used to be five department stores in Liverpool city centre, but now there are only two left. But the CO-OP announced a few years back that they were changing policy. They've been buying up local mini-markets left, right and centre for a few years now.