Welcome to Common Ground Food Co-op
Common Ground Food Co-op, located in Urbana, Illinois, embodies a community-driven approach to nutrition and sustainability. Founded on the principles of cooperative ownership, it offers a diverse selection of organic and specialty foods, including allergen-friendly options. Shoppers enjoy friendly service and a welcoming atmosphere, enhanced by features like a bulk section and ready-to-eat meals. From tasty baked goods to local produce, the co-op caters to various dietary needs and tastes, becoming a favorite stop for both residents and visitors. With its commitment to quality and community engagement, Common Ground enhances the local culinary landscape beautifully.
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300 S Broadway Ave #166, Urbana, IL 61801 Hotline: (217) 352-3347
Welcome to Common Ground Food Co-op, a beacon for health-conscious shoppers in Urbana, Illinois. Located at 300 S Broadway Ave #166, this charming co-operative grocery store serves as much more than just a place to grab your essentials. It offers a unique community experience where local sourcing, allergen-friendly options, and ready-to-eat meals come together under one roof.
As you step inside, you're immediately greeted by a warm atmosphere filled with friendly staff and fellow patrons who seem to share a common passion for wholesome food. The visual space may be compact, but don't let that fool you—Common Ground manages to fill its shelves with a curated selection that caters to various dietary needs. Vegan? Gluten-free? Or perhaps you’re just looking for a great organic snack? This co-op has you covered.
- Fresh & Local: One of the standout features of Common Ground is its focus on locally-sourced products. Customers rave about the organic and specialty foods that reflect the community’s commitment to sustainable agriculture.
- Prepared Foods: Busy travelers and locals alike appreciate the selection of ready-to-eat meals. Sarah W. notes how perfect it was for her road trip to find allergen-friendly options, while her kids enjoyed creating their own trail mix from the bulk bins.
- Friendly Atmosphere: From the cheerful service to the smiling shoppers, the positive vibes at Common Ground make it more than just a grocery stop. Brenda H. highlights the friendliness of both staff and fellow customers, making anyone feel right at home.
- In-House Bakery: Don't miss out on the bakery section! Fresh baked goods tempt even the most disciplined shoppers, as Brenda discovered with her irresistible cookie cravings.
- Community Focus: The co-op fosters a sense of ownership among its members, allowing patrons to feel connected to the store and the products it sells. As Sarah W. expressed, the idea of having an ownership stake is not only empowering but enriching for the community.
While some customers have found that prices can skew higher than traditional grocery stores, the quality of food and ethical sourcing certainly justify the cost for many. Furthermore, the ability to bring your own containers for bulk items resonates with environmentally conscious shoppers, a trend that's gaining momentum in the food community.
Visiting Common Ground Food Co-op represents not just a shopping trip but a lifestyle choice, one that prioritizes health, community, and sustainability. The doors are open, the staff is eager to assist, and the shelves are stocked with delightful surprises just waiting to be discovered. Whether you're a local or just passing through, this co-op should definitely be on your list of must-visit spots in Urbana.
So excited to stop here during our road trip because I knew they would have allergen-friendly items that might be tough for me to find other places. Plus I knew they would have ready-to-eat prepared foods that we could grab and go. In fact, they have a microwave you can use right at the end of the registers. My kids had a lot of fund finding the ingredients for homemade trail mix in the bulk bins too. We bought gluten-free snacks and prepared foods too. I don't mind bagging my own groceries because I do that at Aldi frequently. I love the idea of having an ownership stake in a co-op! How great. My kids said it felt like a mini-Whole Foods.
Super friendly service, and even the fellow shoppers were smiling at us. They have a nice bakery, and fresh drip coffee ( but only from 7:00 am -1:00 pm so we missed jt!) but I did buy some cookies (which is what I came for) and a canned oat milk coffee beverage. Would totally belong here if I was a local!
Friendly, great food options, good menu and I highly recommend! Perfect place for vegans!!
Good spot for clean healthy food, but it's a bit pricey. Really like the prepared food but there's three different taxes applied Including a food preparation tax
Nice little store that manages to do a lot with the square footage. What's here: you can bring your own containers and tare them for use in the bulk section, the cashiers are able to ring up properly. All the basics are here, the selection isn't huge. Before the mall changed leadership they had a great community bulletin board by the mall entrance into the store, not sure if that's still there. Community health: all staff and many customers are masking! This is great, since Urbana is currently at high community levels and masking indoors is recommended.
I stopped in here while I was on campus, just killing time. This is a really cool idea! Prices are moderate, but the selection is much better than traditional "co-ops". There seemed to be plenty of staff available to help locate items or check out yet they were not "leaning" they were cleaning. I wish I lived closer so I could frequent this place more often, but when I am in the area I certainly will be stopping in for some co-op goodies.
Great little grocery with a wide selection of organic and speciality foods, including locally-sourced items. Nice salad bar and bulk items section.