Consumers Cooperative Services
Encyclopedia
Consumers Cooperative Services (CCS) was a white collar
consumers cooperative in New York City
which ran a chain of cooperative restaurants, bakeries and grocery stores. It was founded in 1920 by a group of socially minded women, among them Mary Arnold
, Mabel Reed, Dorothy Kenyon
, Mary LaDame and Ruth True.
Starting with one cafeteria, the association opened additional branches in the financial district
of New York. It was operating eleven restaurants by 1935. In 1944 CCS became active in the grocery field, taking over four grocery co-ops from other cooperative associations. The grocery stores were never as successful as had been hoped. In 1952 there was only one left, in Greenwich Village
. The number of cafeterias declined after the Second World War as well. There were seven in 1945 and four in 1952. By that time the bakery was also disconintued. In spite of these developments, CCS grew in membership from 4,500 in 1935 to 5,536 in 1945, 5,536 in 1946, and 8,291 in 1948. Annual sales reached a peak of $2,049,839 in 1949. CCS declined during the 1950s, and is no longer in existence.
CCS was a progressive
consumer cooperative, which took "the larger view in things cooperative". It was active in consumer
and cooperative education and took a lead in establishing new consumer cooperatives on the East Coast
. CCS used part of its accumulated profits (patronage
funds) to build a 12-story cooperative apartment complex in Lower Manhattan
with 66 apartments which was opened in 1935. The cooperative song The Battle Hymn of Cooperation
originated with employees of CCS who wrote it for a revue in 1932.
White-collar worker
The term white-collar worker refers to a person who performs professional, managerial, or administrative work, in contrast with a blue-collar worker, whose job requires manual labor...
consumers cooperative in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
which ran a chain of cooperative restaurants, bakeries and grocery stores. It was founded in 1920 by a group of socially minded women, among them Mary Arnold
Mary Arnold
----Mary Arnold Prentiss was an amateur American tennis player of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s.Arnold was ranked in the U.S. Top 10 every year between 1939 and 1947. Her highest ranking came in 1942 and 1944 when she was ranked No...
, Mabel Reed, Dorothy Kenyon
Dorothy Kenyon
Dorothy Kenyon was a New York lawyer, judge, feminist and political activist in support of civil liberties. During the era of McCarthyite persecution, she was accused of being affiliated with 28 communist front organizations.Kenyon was born in New York City to Maria Wellington and William Houston...
, Mary LaDame and Ruth True.
Starting with one cafeteria, the association opened additional branches in the financial district
Financial District, Manhattan
The Financial District of New York City is a neighborhood on the southernmost section of the borough of Manhattan which comprises the offices and headquarters of many of the city's major financial institutions, including the New York Stock Exchange and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York...
of New York. It was operating eleven restaurants by 1935. In 1944 CCS became active in the grocery field, taking over four grocery co-ops from other cooperative associations. The grocery stores were never as successful as had been hoped. In 1952 there was only one left, in Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
. The number of cafeterias declined after the Second World War as well. There were seven in 1945 and four in 1952. By that time the bakery was also disconintued. In spite of these developments, CCS grew in membership from 4,500 in 1935 to 5,536 in 1945, 5,536 in 1946, and 8,291 in 1948. Annual sales reached a peak of $2,049,839 in 1949. CCS declined during the 1950s, and is no longer in existence.
CCS was a progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
consumer cooperative, which took "the larger view in things cooperative". It was active in consumer
Consumer
Consumer is a broad label for any individuals or households that use goods generated within the economy. The concept of a consumer occurs in different contexts, so that the usage and significance of the term may vary.-Economics and marketing:...
and cooperative education and took a lead in establishing new consumer cooperatives on the East Coast
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
. CCS used part of its accumulated profits (patronage
Patronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...
funds) to build a 12-story cooperative apartment complex in Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the City of New York...
with 66 apartments which was opened in 1935. The cooperative song The Battle Hymn of Cooperation
The Battle Hymn of Cooperation
Sung to the tune of the Battle Hymn of the Republic , this song was widely popular throughout the American consumers' cooperative movement from the 1930s onward...
originated with employees of CCS who wrote it for a revue in 1932.