Hotevilla Co-op gets wireless Internet

<i>Rosanda Suetopka Thayer/NHO</i><br>
Hotevilla Coop Store is now offering Wi-Fi internet services to the public. Hours are from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. everyday to access Internet services all for the price of a hot cup of Hotevilla "cowboy coffee." This service is the first of its kind offered anywhere on Hopi for visitors and community members.

<i>Rosanda Suetopka Thayer/NHO</i><br> Hotevilla Coop Store is now offering Wi-Fi internet services to the public. Hours are from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. everyday to access Internet services all for the price of a hot cup of Hotevilla "cowboy coffee." This service is the first of its kind offered anywhere on Hopi for visitors and community members.

HOTEVILLA, Ariz. - Nestled on a mesa top in what many tourists over the years have called the "navel of the universe" is a cozy section of the Hotevilla Coop Grocery/Convenience Store that community members and visiting public can now call their own.

Wireless Internet, more widely known as "Wi-Fi" is now available to everyone from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. everyday. All you have to do is purchase something from the deli, including a very affordable cup of "Hopi Cowboy "coffee to be able to set up your laptop and type away.

With village funding cut this past year, the Hotevilla computer lab was shut down. The lab was used by students, adults and visitors from the Dinnebito-Hardrock area during the weekday business hours to check personal email, pay their bills on-line, research the web and read internet newspaper stories.

But once the computer lab was shut down, it was obvious to Hotevilla Coop store manager, Michael Hunter that Wi-Fi services would be a great service to offer their customers. They also felt it would be a good way to create some friendly village atmosphere and communal sharing while having a great deli sandwich, french fries or even a mini-Hopi taco or Hopi burger.

"There is no limit [for] usage during those hours for anyone to use the WIFI service. Just set up your laptop, purchase something, ask the cashier for the passcode and you're all set" Hunter said.

"We are hoping that this new service will catch on for not just our own village members but for our visitors too. We are hoping to show that we have the friendliest and most helpful staff in any store on Hopi. We ... hope to eventually open the Wi-Fi service on the convenience store side. Right now, we are set up for Wi-Fi with big tables near the deli counter in the grocery side of our store."

Hunter added, "We also are hoping to get more kitchen and household general merchandise and we have had requests for art supplies, like paints, wooden dowels, wood working tools and prep materials. We are also the only store that offers four grades of gasoline, unleaded, diesel, premium blend, and Premium all at a 24 hour a day pump with your credit or debit card."

Hotevilla Coop currently employs 10 full-time employees and also workers from the TANF program and is completely village owned and operated.

So saddle up, ride out to Third Mesa, get your cup of Hopi Cowboy coffee and set yourself down for some morning email and a hot, fresh breakfast burrito at the Hotevilla Coop.

For more information, contact the store at (928) 734-2350.

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