Food Front Co-Op Grocery

Veteran grocer brings co-op culture to the Northwest.

by Ashley Gartland

The clientele at this member-owned co-op goes beyond the Birkenstock-wearing demographic you’d expect to shop here. Rather, this small-size grocer attracts health nuts, gourmands and urban dwellers alike with a carefully-chosen selection of local produce and artisan products. Inside, produce bins teem with fresh fruit and veggies, a cheese and deli counter supplies fixings for an impromptu picnic, and a frozen food section offers picks for quick dinners. There’s also a well-edited wine selection, shelves stocked with household goods and pantry staples, and bulk bins filled with everything from whole wheat flour to chocolate covered pretzels.

02/24/09

great neighborhood grocery store

by InternetIsASeriesOfTubes

deli makes delicious sandwiches. tempeh sandwich is really yummy. lots of vegan and vegetarian options. i always come here for a beer run, because of their variety of options to get my drink on. good bulk food selection, i like the soy jerkys and all the nuts and snacks. Bullring Salsa is awesome, as are the Mexisnack tortilla chips. perfect food for when i'm up late studying.

• Pros: relaxed atmosphere, good selection for a small store
• Cons: all the petitioners out front are a**holes, except for the Street Roots guy

01/09/09

The best grocery in Portland - Regret Free Shopping!

by greygoose88

If you compare Food Front to New Seasons as just a regular grocery store, you are not doing it justice. This store is OWNED by people all over Portland - not just one family. That is so impressive and a powerful statement on a community level. All of the money made by the co-op goes back to the community and the 5,000 or so owners who have invested in it. (By the way, ownership is $150, which you can pay $5 a month, but that money is totally refundable if you even need or want it back. In being an owner, you get so many benefits.)

The thing I love about Food Front is its honesty. If you look around, you see people who genuinely believe in the cooperative business model, and who are passionate about their service to the community. I admit, there are a few employees who perhaps aren't the best at customer service, but others who are inspired and passionate to share what they know.

AND they have an amazing deli, great wine, awesome produce, and support many SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES.

So what if something you purchase at Food Front is a quarter more than at Fred Meyer. You are supporting a local business who doesn't have the corporate buying power to buy 10,000 of that product. AND if you are an owner, you get money back at the end of the year based on your purchases... so you get your quarter back!

• Pros: A vibrant locally owned grocery store, that has a heart!
• Cons: Not every employee is as passionate about good food as some.

04/30/08

stop doggin the staff!

by portlandhuman

the staff at this store gets paid barely more than minimum wage and alot less than the staff at a corporate store like new seasons.

did you ever consider that it may be hard to put on a walmart smile for customers when you have rich people spending what would amount to your whole paycheck on one days worth of expensive junk food, frozen "health food" and wine while holding you personally responsible for the store not having their favorite product all the while yelling about how great their friend's new botox looks into a cell phone and throwing their money on the register like a craps table?

if you haven't noticed, fred meyers and the majority of grocery stores in the country are moving away from plastic and paper bags. sustainability and such.

when i'm shopping at food front the first thing i always notice is how rude most of the customers are to the employees. i'm a co-op owner and have nothing but respect for someone who would take less pay and more b.s. to work somewhere that does not compromise their ethics. i'm sure thats alot more than can be said for the the SUV driving blue tooth barking botox'd rich folks of NW portland

• Pros: local food, awesome deli
• Cons: wading thru the sea of trophy wives and douche-y rich dudes

01/09/08

Downhill, Fast.

by specialmediation

I used to really love this place, but lately, the service has been surly and the prices have been NUTS. Like, two days ago it was $4.99 a pound for tomatoes. Their bananas and basic produce is often either in short supply or not ripe, or totally unavailable. They are EXTREMELY STINGY with bags, which I find a little sad since they are easily one of the most expensive groceries in town. They have a classic holier than thou independent attitude.... it's always the customers fault when they ask for something that isn't there...I used to go here to support community, but these people really don't support back. Their Co-Op membership is $150....too much money for us! The point is, if they don't offer down home service and they don't care THAT much about the community they serve, then you might as well go to Zupan's or Whole Foods....especially since the prices since mid-2007 have been more or less the same. And Zupan's has fresher produce. I don't know what this place is for, but I think they've really lost the plot.

• Pros: Near where we live, open late, often less crowded than Whole Foods
• Cons: Slacker staff, crazy fluctuations in prices, bad produce manager.

11/14/04

Amazing Produce

by prettynicegirl

Food Front has the best produce in the area. It is all organic and always fresh and delicious. We go there as much as possible when we need fresh fruits or vegetables.

06/26/02

best lunch in NW !!

by your_best_friend

by far the best deli in the NW area. so healthy, reasonable prices and options beyond the size of my stomach. so happy to have a true "neighborhood" location.

great wine buys too !!!

• Pros: unique items, organic, outside seating