Purple Porch Food Co-op

Incredible local co-op, highly recommend! Especially great for folks with special dietary needs. Staff always friendly and helpful. They have pre - made breakfast burritos every morning, coffee and great lunch options. And, the place is solar-powered!

My son and I look forward to every Friday for our after work/school treats from here on our way home. There aren't many places we can go to (at least conveniently or quickly) for not only vegan friendly but allergy friendly foods. My son and I look forward to our visits and every employee we have met has been so pleasant and helpful. I love the house made breakfast burritos and wraps to grab and go too. Grateful a place like this exists.

Update 3/28/22: I made my annual visit and I still can’t believe how perfect this store is! The nicest employees and a template for what I hope my local coop will offer once it opens. Books, fair trade decor, blankets, the cutest Easter gift baskets, candles, the coziest sweatshirts, gluten-free vegan treats, the tastiest curried cashew hummus, kombucha offerings I’ve seen nowhere else, and gf & v hot soup. Okay, they also carry my favorite raw chocolate (Rawmio out of Illinois, not carried at ANY other health food store I’ve been to) and local moisturizers made by the Soapy Gnome and Sai Shakti. *Bernie 👀 has been relocated to the bathroom, causing me a mini heart palpitation when I forgot about him until I noticed him over my shoulder while washing my hands. 😳 Oh my word! I stopped in on the way to my Airbnb and couldn’t have made a better decision! Bernie greeted me, beautiful fresh flowers and plants, lovely candles and coffee and vegan, gluten free, sugar free jam (which I’ve never seen for sale in all for my travels) and all the things I’d ever need to enjoy my little mini road trip for work. I’d stay in South Bend again anytime as long as I can visit the Purple Porch!

Delightful local market. They try to be sustainable in every regard and are solar powered. Delicious fresh produce, local farmers, lunch items for a quick meal, or seating for catching some sun rays - this is the place to be.

Great place for sustainable shopping; they always have fresh produce, and range of organic grains, lentils, spices, coffee, etc.

They have really good dairy and eggs. The grab and go section has several good healthy and delicious items to choose from. The staff is welcoming and friendly.

I’m so happy to have found a coop like this. It is totally worth the 40 minute drive! Unusual foods that are difficult to find elsewhere and staff who actually know what they are selling. Not to mention quite a few local suppliers. Organic, locavore, seasonal, gluten free and vegetarian options as well. What more could you ask for?

I had just driven 2.5 hours to town for an internship, the final portion of one of the longest weeks I've ever had. Was looking for something nice, quick, and easy to get for dinner when I came across Purple Porch about 45 minutes before closing. I cannot overstate how wonderful it was to walk in! It's a small shop but full of wonderful, high-quality things. Within 5 minutes I found 5 salads, two wraps, a loaf of bread, and a pack of dumplings that made my vegan heart swell. I know what I'm having for lunches this week! The wrap I had for dinner was very good; flavorful with lots of lettuce and a little tofu. Dumplings also great. So excited to come back!

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite spots. It's really the only place I know of downtown south bend where you can run in and get a healthy lunch and run out quickly. Their pre made food seems expensive however it's really filling so it ends up being more cost effective than really anywhere else. Their chia pudding and vegetarian burritos are my go to. They have a Thai noodle salad that also really delicious. I saw they also sell ragamuffin desserts. So really they're the perfect one stop shop for lunch.

Friendly staff that will answer any questions you have. Good selection of spices and grains. Local meats and produce.

Great little grocery and food stop on the east bank of South Bend. We stopped in to grab a small bite to eat and also found some fun cocktail mixers to take home. Their Thai noodle salad was really good!

Hello local! Great little coop that punches above its weight. Great spot for good coffee, baked goods, and getting local, organic fare.

I am so excited about the Purple Porch! During a recent visit to South Bend, my airbnb host provided bulk coffee from Purple Porch and recommended them. I wished I'd visited them the first day, because they had all the healthy yummy foods that I'm used to getting in Portland, Oregon and that could have saved me a trip to Whole Foods in Mishawaka. Not that I would have even bothered with groceries after trying their prepared food bar. I had a breakfast burrito and my husband had the oatmeal. I hate it when his food is better than mine! Their pumpkin cardamom oatmeal with one of the best things I've ever eaten and I DON'T EVEN LIKE OATMEAL! It was hard not to throw my (also delicious) burrito at my husband's head and steal his oatmeal. Luckily, he's much nicer than me, so he shared without me having to resort to violence. They have a rotating menu of lunch/dinner options that we didn't get to try, but I was impressed that they offered vegan, vegetarian and (I think?) gluten free options. I look forward to staying nearby on future visits so I can conveniently visit the Purple Porch. What a great addition to downtown South Bend!

This place has a huge selection, which surprised me. From the produce and even canned items you can tell they have real relationships with local farmers and businesses. The selection is way fresher and more unique (think heirloom) than Whole Foods and the prices are comparable or better. When I went in today they had all these plants and seeds out, which I promptly bought for my garden. They also had the most gorgeous pears I've ever seen and a heap of breakfast burritos ranging from chorizo to vegan. You can tell people here know what they're doing and take a lot of pride in it. One of my favorite this is the cute community free coffee pass board which I always visit when I go in because it makes me feel a little better about the world. In general that's how I feel whenever I walk in here.

The Purple Porch is my new home away from home. I used to work at a little grocery shop in Chi-town, and was pleasantly surprised to find something similar in South Bend. Highlights include the following: -local produce -local coffee -local kombucha -grass-fed meat -organic dry goods -an AWESOME bulk selection -a salad bar -homemade hummus to die for It's good to go here for breakfast or lunch, picking up ingredients for a nice dinner, or your weekly granola/bacon/avocado run. On Wednesdays the local farmers come, and you can buy direct. Staff is friendly and helpful. Bring your own plastic bags.

Purple Porch is everything I thought it would be and more! I came in today, on opening day and was elated by the broad selection of items here, from fresh fruits and vegetables, local honey, Hobo Jim's ketchups and sauces, stocks, cereals, and even a huge weigh-your-own area for nuts, seeds and everything in between! There were also lots of frozen products, Express Cupcakes and even natural and organic beauty products like soaps and balms. My favorite part of Purple Porch is Cafe Max! I love the daily soup selections and that there is always a vegan option. There is a lovely little salad bar with organic veggies and dressings. There are lots of cookies, baked goods and even to go meals. Always free ice water and iced tea and lemonade for only $0.75 a glass! Today I tried a vegan boca breakfast burrito and a fresh handmade falafel sandwich. Both were absolutely delicious! The standout was the house-made falafel! Fresh, seasoned well, and perfectly crispy on the outside and flaky on the inside. I made my own pita sandwich with the falafel with tzatziki, cucumbers, spring mix and a bit of green goddess dressing. SO YUMMY! After that, my friends and I tried the blueberry muffins, chocolate chip cookie and ginger snap cookie. All wonderful! I also love the thought, care and eco-mindedness that has gone into Purple Porch all around, especially in the cafe. You will find actual glasses for those diners choosing to eat in. That way plastic cups will not go to waste. Same goes for actual dishes. There are even wooden spoons and paper boxes that can be used to go that can be easily recycled at home. This is my new go-to spot! SO excited Purple Porch is open and running! Head there now for an all-local, organic, healthy experience! The friendliest around!

New to the area and found this little gem There's a farmer's market on Wednesdays too! Great spot to grab some essentials for the week.

The Purple Porch is a Mecca to those who love real food. The grocery lines are stocked with all the essentials. All of the meats are locally sourced. The purple porch offers a hot/cold food bar that cannot be beat! Just finished my lunch... Perfection. Everything was fresh and flavorful.

Went there for the first time and loved it! They have vegan beef jerky which is so good. The whole place smells delicious and love the local vibe it gives. The girl who helped me was so kind. Definitely will be back.

Living a healthy life is easy in CA but when I visit my family in South Bend it's always been a struggle... until now. Purple Porch co-op has a hot & cold bar filled with gluten-free, organic, vegan, and vegetarian food choices. The only part I didn't enjoy is that they use canola oil in one of their soups. They have a small but diverse produce section, natural cleaners, eco body care products, beverages and a great bulk section of teas, spices, nuts & seeds. They even have local grass-fed meat & kombucha! They offer free wifi, tables inside and out, and a clean environment to enjoy meeting friends or taking time for yourself. It's a win-win-win!

What a wonderful store! I luckily found it while visiting South Bend for the weekend so I could restock our family snack bag. Great natural/organic grocery selection as well as a ready-to-eat food bar. Delicious salads & a fun Kombucha bar with 6 flavors to sample. I went with the ginger! I will flag this store for the next time we're in town.

Awesome! Although they have a nice selection of fresh local organic produce and a nice cooler section of healthy eats, I primarily go here once a week for their prepared food area. Awesome selection of prepared food. They always have 2 soups to select from, a fresh salad bar, multiple baked goods and a feature for the day, today was taco tuesday. Everything is clearly marked for vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and local meat. I always take an ample amount of food for a couple days of snacks. They use their own recipes, my favorite being their vegetable chili which is usually in the cooler prepackaged or in the freezer as well. Very quaint area of about 6 tables to eat, relaxing communal atmosphere with cafeteria style eating. Adorable sidewalk seating, great for a lunch to catch up with loved ones. I have looked into their members benefits but have yet to take the plunge, I'm not in a position where buying fresh produce is easy for me because it often goes to waste with my busy schedule and from what I read it's 10% off of one big purchase monthly. If anything I would join to support the co-op. Great job purple porch! Exactly what we need more of downtown!

Love the porch. Wonderful little co-op with not just a variety of locally sourced grocery items, but also an awesome buffet table they regularly stick with (salads, soups) and typically some kind of special for the day like quinoa Mac and cheese. It is worth the investment, as you get 10% off your purchase each month and are supporting a wonderful initiative.

Great food!!! Awesome staff !!!! The perfect environment!!! We love going here to pick up certain groceries, if we can't find it we ask to see if they can get it in. Best Bananas and Bacon (Hebron Farms) around!!! The breakfast burritos are tasty and filling!! Be sure to find and meet Myles!!

This is a small co-op with a lot of variety. It has great spice and bulk item options along with organic snacks and some fruit and veggies. It has a small prepared food section with a couple of vegan options. The young man working was extraordinarily nice- finding good customer service is TOUGH! He was probably one of the most polite humans I've ever met.

Neat place if you're in the area and need some high end groceries. I had a pastry and some excellent ho coffee. If I lived here I'd probably shop here regularly and actually be a member.

Great prepared foods. Great produce, but limited selection. Excellent bulk foods. Tons of goodies. And I love the meat case. Very culty atmosphere, not as much anymore as in the beginning. No, I am not a fucking member, and I'm not going to pay 200 bucks to join, although I'd probably save a bunch of money. No, I don't really want to sit around and talk about how much good we are doing for the world. Smugasses. But you are indeed doing awesome shit and I love your store.

Ohhh dearrrr Beautiful inside: But overpowering clinging odor. Run away..... I'm miles away and am personally scented like a ramen packet. This has ruined my morning.....

Great place. It still blows me away that Bloomington, IN has had a coop for 30 years and South Bend Just got one recently. It is nearly everything I want it to be, and I frequent often. They have a helpful dedicated staff, and genuinely care. Which is nice to see rather than the 'we pretend to care' corporate bs a place like Whole Foods will sell you.

Absolutely wonderful! All the food is fantastic and you can't go wrong. Everyone is super friendly and are very helpful when it comes to finding what you are looking for. Everything is fresh and made with love

This was a terrible place. The food was absolutely nasty! Everything was gross. The bottled root beer was even nasty! It isn't that hard to make the simple things we got.

This is the spot for vegetarian food in South Bend. Nice little operation that has a good salad and hot bars.

Frequently shopped here with my mother and loved every trip! They have a good variety of items and a wonderful local selection. Wonderful back story as well, I am so happy they have been so successful!

it is good to have a healthy restaurant in South Bend. they have a lot of vegy choice that i enjoyed. However, i was upset that i couldn't bring my " Bitsy" my dog with me. they should allow pets, at least in the open area.

This was the nastiest food I have ever had. They made me a sandwich and it was soggy/wet, it felt like something a hippy at a concert/festival would make you out of the back of their van. I couldn't give this place a second try if I wanted. It was that bad.

Fantastic organic and local store with beautiful little salad bar and hot food/soup bar. We stopped here driving from New York to Chicago and on the way back again. Super fresh, affordable, and so important for supporting incredible local businesses and farmers. Great gluten free and vegan options, as well as local meat and eggs. Will definitely visit again!

I used to live in SB and I went to lunch here a few times. The food is excellent and the new location is very nice. They also have a small grocery store section (two or three aisles). Easily one of my favorite places in South Bend.

After 2 weeks driving cross country I was so in need of a healthy, tasty meal. Delighted to find this place. Great food - tasty, fresh and worth the drive. Wishing I could find places like this in Nebraska & Wyoming.

This is the only place in south bend in which you can get a meal that is 100% local and organic. Great for vegans!

It's an especially good spot if you live in the area, or would prefer to give your money to a local entity that uses mostly local farmers. They don't have everything compared to a huge grocery store, but what they do have is usually high quality.