Community Food Co-op

Far too much processed food, not much for local supply, feels like a regular grocery store. Staff not very knowledgable. Also, way overpriced! Will not be returning; Skagit ValleyCo-​Op is much better in every way.

I like this place, but at times seams a bit excessive on the prices. Otherwise it’s good

This review is purely just to let the cashier who was working on ⁵⁄₂ at 12:30 know how much I appreciate your genuine sweetness and bright personality! You complimented me on how great I looked and we chatted about how it always happens that you get the most compliments when you don’t try and how women should stop trying so hard and just be happy! But seriously though, your kind words brightened my day!

Deli never really recovered from remodel
Way too many students to rely on the honor system
Hope they run out of curry soon.

Great selection of spices and (other baking essentials) in their bulk bins! We bought our turkey here for Thanksgiving. We were planning a meal for two. We were looking for a single turkey breast. They had the awesome Mary’s turkeys and a worker very nicely told us that we could indeed buy just a breast and advised us when to come in to get it. And that is how the Co-​op saved Thanksgiving for us.

Tried to order a coffee today and the shaved head woman/​girl at the coffee counter «corrected «me when I politely asked «can I order now ?»
She said «I don’t know, CAN YOU ?»
So sick of the uppity attitude of the employees there. It’s the very last time I’ll be in the store.

This weekend was the first time we hit the new bakery and the goodies are great. Wholesome quality ingredients and I am liking this place.

Important– This review pertains ONLY to the Co-​Op on N Forest Street. The people at Cordata Co-​Op are super nice.
Okay, so the produce section is lovely, although high priced. The rest of the store is fine– just like the other natural food stores I’ve visited throughout the west. Not better, not worse. Prices are jacked, but that seems to be the case in Bellingham, so no points lost for that.
My main gripe, and it is a big one, is the horrible checkout service. Every time I go there, I swear it will be my last. Why does it seem I am doing the cashiers a favor by buying their groceries? These employees are just so rude– they must have a competition to see who can be the biggest jerk. The first time I went there, the cashier ran my items through, and then just stood there, with my groceries unbagged, and looked at me. I was busy paying so didn’t notice what was happening. When I looked up, I saw my items in a pile and it hit me. Uh, I guess I’m supposed to bag my own. Which I did. While he stood there, arms crossed. Looking irritated. No goodbye, no thank you. Definitely no come again.
Then, I heard that the Co-​Op was now bagging customers’ groceries (this was right after Whole Foods announced they were coming to town). So now they do it, but with a huge scowl, and only if you don’t do it first. And they will wait. And stand there. Like a game of chicken. Really? You are a grocery checker!!! You are not too good to bag someone’s groceries– that is part of your job. get over yourself already.
Today I was lucky enough to have «Terry» check me out. He was just standing at his post, so I thought, «great, he won’t be overworked and grumpy.» Wrong. I don’t know if it was when I said I wasn’t a member, the fact that I was too busy PAYING to bag my own groceries (so he had to do it– wow), or he just doesn’t like his job. Whatever. Not my circus, not my monkeys.
I simply cannot wait for Whole Foods to open.

It’s a bit pricey — but that’s what I would expect from a place like this. I like to grab lunch here on the days I forget to pack one. I’m always happy with their selection of ready-​made foods. And I love that there is plenty of seating, even during the lunch hour!

Terrible place. Came here with my boyfriend trying to buy a few hard ciders for our Friday evening and although we were completely sober, they refused to sell it to us claiming my boyfriend seemed «extremely intoxicated» when neither of us had one sip of alcohol prior to arriving at the store. When my boyfriend became frustrated with the situation he called over a manager to address what was going on and all the manager had to say was «the cashier made the call so I don’t know what to tell you». What a great management system! Not. The clerk named Max who resembles a geico caveman, decided to force us to leave empty handed because «he worked at a liquor store for 15 years and knows a drunk person when he sees one» um apparently not. I am so incredibly offended by this incident and will not be retuning here. Not only does the service suck, everything sold there is over priced and over rated. So done with the judgmental people who work there.

Lazy Bootheads. I love me some co-​op goodness, like lifetime love and this place has the potential, makings and goods but… the worst customer service ever. In the 5 times I’ve been here in the last week (we just moved are are not yet cooking for ourselves or shopping sensibly) no one says hi, how are ya? Can I help you with that? Or so much as smile and nod. It’s like blank stare, eye boogy pickin’, nasty cafeteria area, and feeling like a nuisance for ordering a smoothie or coffee. My last time in there with two kids including a baby the guy, Joey, told me I could only check out with seven items. I look and count, yea seven. Tell him that and get an EYE ROLL! Made the mistake of asking for a bag and he points off thattaway somewhere. With baby and squirmy other child try to bag while getting admonished by the other checker for getting in the way and then tells me softly I could ask for help if I need it. Wow. Wow. Note to staff. When a woman alone with two children checks out, don’t try to send her to the opposite end of the store to do that. Ask her is she’d like a bag and if you can help. Apparently that’s not common sense so I’m puttin’ it out there. Also, the smoothie I waited 10 min for, they never bothered to call out that it was done, it was ²⁄₃ full and tasted awful. They even messed up strawberries and bananas… Who is running this place? Also, I’m gonna say it… HYGIENE people! Good Lawd. Rant over.

This place is the Raw Deal. Okay I love the raw deal salad. I get it every time. And the bulk section has the best prices around. Everything else is perfect and fresh. Love this place.

I wish we had Co-​ops in the southeast region; you just don’t see them down here. Or if you do, I’ve never run into one. Tons of healthy and organic options, focusing on local suppliers in the area.
Great bulk sections: coffee, spices, home cleaning products. If you need to fill up on something, the Community Co-​op can more than likely hook you up with what you need. We were here to pick up a few things for dinner with a friend so we really did just get to soak in the atmosphere. The people watching is something special; that’s a definite.

After eating to the tilt at Boundary Bay bistro a few blocks away, which would’ve walked if it wasn’t for the light rain, but I digress, decided to drop in to this medium-​sized grocery store that looks like another Whole Foods.
Same good healthy focus, on supporting local, organic products. When I checked out their ice cream section, no Ben and Jerry’s, etc. — impressive.
Their deli/​bakery/​dessert section in the back had a good vegetarian options.
Some decent sales, though not on my Knudsen’s black cherry juice, in fact, more expensive than back home, $ 7.49 versus $ 5.99.
Even a section on skincare.
Free parking, own lot.

I felt like the vegan offerings in the deli were only slightly varied from each other, a lot of stuff had the same ingredients, two types of slaw, that type of thing. On the other hand I am grateful they had vegan options. The low stars is for customer service at both locations in Bellingham it seems to be lacking on the part of the cashiers. I’m used to friendly employees at co-op’s. When I get in line I feel like I’m a bother, from the way the cashier looks at me. I didn’t get asked what my member number was which I feel is important since I may have forgotten to give, not be familiar with how a co-​op works, or a member of another co-​op. At other co-op’s I know that first time customers get the member price and that members of other co-op’s get that price also. If I was new I wouldn’t be familiar with those things so it would be nice to be educated about it and given information incase I want to join. She made no effort to bag my few items but I’m not sure if that’s typical or part of the lack of effort on her part.

This place is great. I’m from out of town so I wanted to get some yummy (frozen) vegan products and they have a great variety. I also look for vegan chicken (usually Boca brand, and they had a great assortment of their products. They were a little more expensive than what I expected, but it was still great.
The staff was funny, nice and always had a smile on their face, which I enjoy. I find that a lot of people in this town (and this place) smile a LOT more than where I come from (Montréal, Canada) and I really enjoyed that.
They also have fresh food you can buy to eat, although there wasn’t anything vegan (that I saw) that day.
I would recommend this place to people who are looking for some (frozen) vegan goodies and organic product.

Only a few words needed to describe 97% of the staff I interact with in this store: snotty, rude hipsters
Completely ruins the entire vibe of a great community co-​op when I’ve got some ego-​centric jerk cashier passive aggressively (and violently) dumping my $ 40 worth of groceries all over the checkout counter because I did not take the time to empty out my basket for him, and neatly place everything in perfect harmony on the conveyor belt as not to disturb his deeply existential thought process’. I like my cans of black beans sans the dents of an angry white 20-​something dude who thinks he’s better than me because he doesn’t wear shoes to be closer to the Earth or whatever.
Much prefer the co-​op up by WCC, same awesome stuff without the attitude! Or the feeling of sadness when I am made to feel like a terrible person for asking for a paper bag because my groceries couldn’t fit in my backpack!
Ya’all can take your snotty hipster attitudes and shove them up your lily white organically bleached gluten free vegan buttholes! Totally ruins the entire vibe of an otherwise awesome co-​op.

People are crazy. This is the best grocer I have been to in North America. I used to live in white rock (in Canada, but right on the border) but would shop here for groceries. Prices are extremely fair, they have a great selection, and their deli section is also amazing !!
Another nice thing is that they sell meat. Most co-​ops don’t, so it’s nice to find one that doesn’t solely cater to vegetarians.
Ohh and get a chicken cashew salad sandwich! Mmmm

If you have any/​all sorts of food sensitivities and allergies, than this place is for you. Much of what is stocked here int he bulk, grocery, and produce departments are reasonable priced, especially in comparison to some of the more fashion, forward, big box chains (ahem, WHOLE FOODS).
Pros: hella awesome, frikken beefy produce election of kale and other dark, dark green items. Nice selection of bulk laundry detergents, soaps, lotions, and household cleaners for use in reusable containers. Staff that answered my questions about what was or want in stock*. Staff was nice and knowledgeable about what was in their prepared foods and alternatives to soy/​wheat/​dairy, etc.
Cons: DAYUM, the deli is expensive! I know prepared and baked goods present an excellent chance for places to mark up the price and make a profit… But DAYUM. If youre familiar with PCC Natural Markets (in Seattle) and what they charge for their deli food, expect to add an additional 30 to 50% to what PCC charges for similar products. *: Staff couldn’t help me find pre minced garlic, and told me their didnt have any from their supplier. I found some in their produce department not five minutes after asking.
The amount of food I got here for $ 40 was actually quite a lot. As is the case with any store, if you stick with stuff you break down and prepare for yourself, youll get a lot more bang for your buck.
PS: the bulk nuts and granola was pretty epic.

HOLY HECK eating at the café here is really expensive! (This is just a review of the café.) I’ve gone a few times seeking healthy eats for my niece and I, and each time I was shocked at the cost. Of course, it isn’t all bad to go broke eating lunch at the café here since it is a non-​profit community organization, and the food is healthy. Another reason to favor this place is the location: it’s on the WWU side of downtown, within walking/​biking distance of the campus area and the quaint residential neighborhoods bordering downtown.
The main reason I will come back here is to get healthy fast food, however, I do consider the common burrito to be a very healthy food, regardless of who makes them — and any burrito lunch is much cheaper than Co-​Op Café for lunch. Co-​Op café food is still a 4 star situation, though :-)