Seward Community Co-op - Franklin Store

Knowledgeable and helpful staff. Great variety of unique products. I don't know what's with the negative reviews here but as a customer for 20 years I've not experienced attitude as described here. I have always found the staff to be warm, approachable and quick to help.

Seward has been acting more and more like a corporate miser business lately. It's a bad look for a place I used to go to because it felt good being there. Part of what felt good was how they treated their employees. Now they are are arbitrarily firing them/eliminating positions, forcing them to do tasks not in their job description, and introducing self check out (!). JUST RAISE YOUR PRICES and treat your employees well. We already pay more to get organic food at a place where we believe the employees are treated better than the corporate world treats its workers. I really detest this attitude and will be spending my grocery money at a co-op that has a better moral compass.

An over-priced propaganda machine that truly cares ONLY about supporting the livelihood of upper management. The staff is treated very poorly, hence the need for a union. Employees are miserable & turnover constant. Same products are less expensive even at Lunds & Byerlys. Sad that they pretend to care about community. Mississippi Market & Hampden coops provide a MUCH more honest service.

The stuff is good, except the tissues. They're super scratchy and don't make your nose feel better. Food is good, a lot of plant based options but it is quite expensive. Service is good, staff seems to be knowledgeable. Ambiance is good for a grocery store, I mean what else could you ask for in a place to buy your food. They used to have a nice juice bar but it seems in their construction they took it away temporarily. The premade stuff is pretty good, sushi's and salads and sandwiches are pretty tasty. Also the desserts, especially the French silk pie.

I used to work here and shop here. Although co-ops are based on principles of equity and cooperation, the upper management at Seward is so backwards that the employees need a union to protect their basic rights. At this location the employee and management turnover is insanely high which is why customers never get a consistent experience. Additionally nearly all people in management positions are unqualified for their jobs. (Usually with zero experience in the field) Lastly and most sadly, this co-op is not in favor of women's right or bodily autonomy. If you believe in principles of equity, cooperation, or ethics I would NOT shop here

I participated in a virtual Nourush 201 Summer Series cooking class 'Black Bean Burgers' with Chef Jess Delicious Toliver through Seward Community Co-op Nourish 101 program. The class was excellent. Very fun and educational. They provided the list of ingredients, equipment and recipe in advance so you could be prepared and prep in advance and cook along at the same pace as the chef and enjoy dinner afterwards. We mashed the beans (or you could use a food processor). And chopped the veggies. (chef used fresh, I sautéed mine first I just don't care for onion or raw garlic). Add spices (cumin, Hot paprika, pepper, salt, and sauce. We eat an egg ( or you can make Chia seed egg) and you could add breadcrumbs. We then mixed with our hands and formed patties. One can of black beans makes four burgers. As we cooked, host Lasked questions and also relayed our questions from the chat. Chef Jess provided her background and how she got into the cooking and being a personal chef now and trying to make healthy meals and promote wellness through food. She gave lots of suggestions on various summer meals and a variety of veggie burger combinations. And showed us how to chop the vegetables and provided the knife she prefers. She gave us tips on photographing food from above not the side (Check out my cool hands in the air photos) Made mine with black beans, poblano, peppers, carrots. onions, egg and buffalo sauce. (I sautéd the veggies with garlic and herbs) we baked the burgers in oven. Chef Jess used Sriracha. But she gave us lots of suggestions in how to make it your own. she gave alternates if you wanted to make it vegan or gluten-free or dairy free etc. (I am pescatarian). As far as assembling the burgers. I fried two eggs. And sliced an avocado, tomato and some radishes Topped with the buffalo sauce (use sour cream instead of mayo), avocados, radish, and tomato and served on mixed greens. You don't need no stinking bread. Yum. They turned out so good. And so filling. I'll be making again. Next time with garbanzo beans. Thank you Chef Jess! And thank you seaward community co-op /Lawson for hosting.

This place has gone downhill with a quickness. Their newest shenanigans involve completely turning the store aisles upside down. No rhyme or reason to the new layout. Everything's "under construction". Can't find what you're looking for, employees not really around to help, prices went way up, and they support what I consider trafficking right out front. There's a woman there begging, and when she gets some "donations" the men who are watching her a block away , swoop in and take her money. I brought this up to the staff, but they seemed indifferent. They'd rather come out in droves to scream at me for parking my scooter too close to the store after a crazed, homophobic peace coffee employee cussed me out for supposedly blocking the handicapped area while her elongated bike was completely blocking the handicapped area. Employees are very elitist, snobby, and generally all around filled with hatred. I'll be trying the other store on. 38th.

This place has a serious culture problem. The sardonic workers at the meat counter act as if they are doing you a big favor by helping you. The ones stocking produce seem glum and forlorn. Others workers are combative or social misfits without a working knowledge of how basic human communication works. The priority of the cashiers seems to be continuing to chit-chat amongst themselves rather than turn their attention toward an approaching customer. And they all seem to be members of an elite club with no tolerance for outsiders. Moreover, none of this is new. It has been going on at this store for years. I live closer to this store than the Friendship Store on 38th but will drive further to shop there, which doesn't seem to have these problems. The environment at the Friendship Store feels normal and, well, friendly. So the question is why is this the case?  There could be a number of reasons including - the space, the neighborhood, and the management. The badly organized and cramped space this stores occupies could just be too small to contain all of the chaos jammed in there. The customers that patronize this store seem to be well-invested in their oddball egos as they pose and assert themselves in the store aisles.  It's possible that the workers come from the nearby neighborhoods and bring this unfortunate culture with them - or feed off of the ridiculous behavior of the customers. More likely, however, is a failure on the part of the management.  Sensitivity, humor and graciousness are all excellent qualities for a co-op, but seem to be in short supply here.  I get the feeling that the managers are ill-equipped to supervise people and don't have a clue about setting an example for their employees in any kind of meaningful way.  If I were on the board of directors, I would look seriously at any long-term managers who have promulgated this culture and replace them with people who can establish a more humane one.  This would then filter down to the staff, store and possibly even the community, making this a less lousy place to shop.

Co-op - check Organic - check Service, well....lack of service would be a better term. Yes, I love the products including the hot table & eat-in service! But why the attitude staff? No, I'm not a Co-op member so don't cop an attitude but then follow up with their "do you want to round to the nearest dollar" for their charities. Yes. I am a sucker for still donating and coming back here.

My name is Josh, and I'm addicted to Sugar... The Seward Co-Op is one of the distributors of a vegan-sugar free dessert made by Luv's Brand. It's awesome... go find it. For an addict like me, it's the greatest exchange for a doughnut or late night Culver's run. Now, the store itself is exquisite. General disclaimer, this is not the cheapest place in town. However, if organic and locally sourced and responsible brands/products matter to you, then know that this shop will honor your patronage and put forward an exquisite presentation. The produce is always top tier and fresh... they usually have some more "out there" stuff too so when in doubt, they probably have the weird stuff. The staff rocks and there is a very diverse demographic of customers here. You will see the dreadlocked 60 something who stepped out of a time warp from the 60s and you'll see transgendered folks with more piercings than you knew places existed. Moms with their kids and young couples ranging from college kids to sunset years romances. If there was a spot in the cities to point out that "we are one" it's the Seward Co-Op. as long as you bring the coin, they've got the goods. Enjoy!

This place is ok food-wise, but I am fed up with asking if I want to donate to "women of color" a the end of a chaotic and busy grocery shop. Why not just embrace McDonald's set up of corporate welfare with a picture of a boy from Africa further contributing to a stereotype because it's making me feel like I'm running though McDonald's. I think that segregating people via charities only divides the races up more and contributes to a separation of community. Why not donate to "women in need" or "women of domestic violence" instead? We all know women of all races are in need of help at the moment, so maybe you should consider updating your charities to be more inclusive of the entire community. Five stars for food and supply but one star for environment. It's hypocritical to claim "all are welcome" but then contribute to segregated charity. I'd rather go to the wedge community co-op on Lyndale.

The Seward Co-op is such a gem (I adore both locations). I don't live exceptionally close to this location, but I try to stop in when I'm nearby since I love supporting the Twin Cities Co-ops (& became a member/owner last year). Every person that works here marches to the beat of their own drum & all fantastic human beings. Besides all of the great offerings here that most every co-op has, what sets Seward apart from all the rest is their selection of offal/odd bits (aka animal organs, fats (rendered AND unrendered). I love them for this (sadly, most humans lack the appreciation of these parts because of the cultural mental block BUT they have the MOST nutrient-density compared to typical cut we're used to seeing). This location also has a really great selection of house-made sausages at their meat counter. Seward holds their own in style & culture (every co-op does...that's what makes it fun to shop ALL of them), I KNOW that I'll be back!

Seward is a staple of Mpls. The staff is awesome always available to assist with questions. Seward is always neat & clean. Products are fresh & organized. Fresh. Thank you Seward you make my family proud.

I would shop here more if it didn't take so long to check out my purchase. It takes 2 minues to find what you want and ten minutes to check out. There is a long row of cash registers but usually only a couple are open. Over-priced. I've been a member for many years. The price-per-ounce is nice but is conspicuously missing from the price tags of, what I assume with my poor math, are the most unjustly priced items. Everything has sugar, salt, or some sweetener/additive in it, not a good co-op anymore. If the employees aren't walking right in front of your way, somebody else is.

I love, love, LOVE SCCO!! It's my favorite co-op aside from the Wedge, Linden Hills, etc. Granted, each co-op sells pretty much the same stuff, I honestly feel like Seward sometimes has lower prices on certain things, i.e., travel Crystal deodorant, and I also feel like they have more sales. Their fresh fruit and vegetable aisle is awesome--all organic, all the time, anything you need--kale, bananas, oranges, Thai coconut, etc. I haven't really purchased any fresh meat here, but I will have to do that in the near future. My favorite features that they offer are their hot bar and salad bar. When I am stumped for what I want for dinner, I just make my way over to Seward when I can and see what they have on deck. At the hot bar, there is always a grand variety of hot veggie items, lasagna, chicken, potatoes, mixed vegetable dishes, etc. The hot bar is pricy, though, at $8.99 a pound, so I try not to overload my box and make it too heavy. Their salad bar is a little cheaper, but not by much; however, if you make a big enough salad, that can get a little expensive, too. They do offer three different-sized containers at the salad bar, so you can make a small, medium, or huge salad, dependent upon your mood. I also like their fresh deli items that's right by the salad bar. You can get sushi, spring rolls, sandwiches, dessert, small salads, and so much more. Again, most items are not cheap, but there are some affordable things. You just have to pick and choose. They also offer a spot within the store where you can sit and eat, which is awesome. Most other co-ops don't offer this. They also have some lovely offerings in the way of scarves, shirts, hats, and gloves, especially toward the beginning of winter. I bought my husband an awesome scarf from Seward years ago, probably a decade, and he still has it and wears it often. All-in-all, Seward will always be my favorite go-to co-op in the South Minneapolis area. Plus, I always run into people I know here, and we exchange hugs and banter. :)

I'm not sure what Seward Co-op's business model is, but if I go off of how customers are treated it wouldn't be flattering. I've been met with literal eye-rolls asking for simple requests, or audible scoffing whenever I point out that a product is out of stock or not what is advertised. You can often find a gaggle of employees in the side office of the produce section, no doubt discussing their contempt for the customers who dare enter their store. I've walked up to the checkout lanes to find only two employees working while tens of customers are waiting to be checked out, only to overhear them discussing a party later on. If you visit Seward Co-op you will find ridiculously high-priced produce that lasts about two days before rotting, employees who demonstrate open contempt, and a complete and utter lack of professionalism from nearly every section of the store.

Let me tell you---I LOVE this place. It has all the wholesome goodies my family and I love, and the price is right. Their hot bar is the best grocery store hot bar in the World--or at least the Twin Cities. I especially love the fact that they serve Vegan baked goods. A huge plus! Forget Whole Foods, Cub Foods, and Trader Joe's, circulate your money at the co-op!

I'm probably not the best reviewer for co-ops because I'm not a regular co-op shopper, nor can I afford to be, but my visit served its purpose and taught me to pick up what I need at my regular grocery store haunt. First off, the parking lot is a pain. Cramped and hard to maneuver in and out of. I have never seen such a big bike rack at a grocery store. I needed an avocado and a handful of grape tomatoes to round out a salad I was making. At their prices I was tempted to eat the whole damn avocado. Skin, seed and all. At 2.69 a piece. Really? There was no way I was letting any of that go to waste. Nice cheese selection. I did pick up a wonderfully tasty loaf of rye bread. It was good, but again, not the norm I would spend for bread. A one time indulgence. I learned that if you purchase a gift card, you can use them at any of the co-ops which is a bonus and a cool perk for the recipient. Like I said, I'm probably not the best reviewer of co-ops since I'm not a regular and most likely don't plan on becoming one. People have all their own reasons for shopping where they shop. I wish I had the discipline to eat super healthy, but for now Seward will be a place to say, "been there and tried it."

While I shop at The Wedge more often (entirely due to its proximity to my home), Seward Co-op's prices have me reconsidering things. The prices on produce of all types seems consistently and significantly lower at Seward than at The Wedge (today, for example, Seward is selling avocados for $0.89 a piece, whereas The Wedge is selling them for $1.49 a piece). Similarly, prices on other items such as Field Roast mockmeats and Seeds of Change pasta sauce, are on average 10-20% lower than at The Wedge. So, price-wise, Seward wins hands down. But in terms of selection, The Wedge offers many more varieties of non-dairy milk brands, yogurts, ice creams and bulk dry produce (such as nuts, grains and rice). Also, The Wedge has better vegan baked goods and hot cooked foods and sandwiches, in addition to a larger selection. But I like that Seward has a little cafe/dine-in area to sit and eat or chat, which is something that The Wedge sorely lacks. The community aspect of The Wedge is missing. In summary, Seward is definitely cheaper, edgier and less corporate than The Wedge. But in terms of selection and (sometimes) quality and variety, The Wedge wins. We'll see what happens when Seward moves to its new, larger location.

When this place was first being built, I thought in my mind "oh no, not another grocery store and not another co-op." That means I obviously had a lot of doubts as it was built. I stepped in there for the first time recently. My doubts I originally had were proven wrong. It really wasn't nearly as bad as I was thinking. There are tons of delightful ethnic foods that I can't find at The Dollar Store, where I normally do my grocery shopping. I'm amazed at the variety of things. The prices are a little high, but I became a member and got a membership card, and the prices drop when I show the clerk my card. The one downside is that the hot produce isn't always fresh. That means I have to look at the expiration date before I grab it. The clerks are delightful to be around. This is where I'll go if I can't find something I want at The Dollar Store.

"Everyone welcome!" as long as you have an upper middle class or better income lol. I understand and respect the co-op model, but some of this stuff is just overboard expensive for what it is. Don't take my word for it though, I'm just a vagrant with food stamps. I just kinda wish they had at least one filling/decently price prepared food item, but overall it's a nice store

How friggin' lucky am I to get the beautiful new Seward Co-op in biking distance from my house??! I would bike there twice a day just to pick up more Rustica bread (ohhhhh....baguette!) Other fantastic things include: Cheeese! Lots of cheese. Seven layer bars from the bakery. The health and beauty section. The hot food is now more like Whole-Foods, and the menu is posted daily online..good for when you're feeling lazy. P.S. Thank you Seward Co-Op for always having clean restrooms! I always have to pee for some reason when I am there.

You know you've hit upon a great business when you actually consider moving from sunny Los Angeles to Polar Vortex-prone Minneapolis because of a grocery store. Fantastic. While I was visiting as an out-of-town guest, I found a most impressive selection of groceries here. Prices and quality were very good. And what an array of bulk items: well organized, priced reasonably and seemed to have everything one could possible need. The best thing for me, though, was the breakfast. I had the Pecan French Toast and the Beet Hash, both of which were out of this world. The French Toast may have been the best I've ever had anywhere. The Beet Hash sounded strange but tasted fantastic. (Tip: Dip an onion from the Beet Hash in the Pecan Sauce from the French Toast. Incredible.) Fresh coffee was decent but not completely outstanding, maybe due to the particular roast that I selected. Highly recommended!

I miss living near the Seward co-op - it may only be across the bridge and down the street now, but we have a healthy pack of co-ops in these twin towns, and I usually go to the one closest to me. Seward has a great produce section. I like it better than the Wedge for vegetables. And I've never found it crowded, which may not be a good thing for the store, but is obviously pleasant for the shopper. The arrangement of products, lighting, and temperature also contribute to a five-star rating. It's a nice space to walk into, really emphasizing the food, rather than the requisite but kind of kooky "health" products and aids that some natural food stores push. Check out the little deli - not as extensive as the Wedge's, but good-to-go. I'd like to see a more easily navigable cheese world, but that's my complaint about all of the co-ops. And Seward is a little low on meat. But I appreciate how much of what I want is in one little store. It's size works, and only once did I have to run down to North Country co-op to find something (dried baby lima beans). Membership is always a big question, but that applies to all the area co-ops, so I won't go into it here. The monthly sales are excellent across the local co-op galaxy, worthy at least a once monthly trip for the less dedicated grocery shoppers.

Absolutely love the Seward co-op and come here often! They have a great deli and hot bar, staff is friendly and love the mission behind the co-op. Seward Co-op is a community owned and everyone is welcome. They care about the community and work hard to partner with local farmers and find ethically and local sources products! Always a good spot :).

Yikes!!! Step right up and get your Covid here! This store does not follow CDC Protocol. They allow employees to work without masks on. I have been here twice and both times encountered staff wearing only plastic eye shields. It is not brain surgery to realize that a shield that only encloses the forehead is not protective. It is bad enough to allow entrance of these these people into the store, it is unconscionable to have them breathing on our food. Is it any wonder the we have the worst record in the world for covid deaths?

Lately, I've been in here a few times and I really like the place. All the employees seem so friendly, open and knowledgeable. The customers I've encountered all seem so friendly and polite (contrasted with typical Whole Foods shoppers). I ate dinner here the other night - you grab a small tray and a glass plate and scoop onto it anything you want from their hot food bar offerings or their fresh salad bar. All sorts of healthy-looking dishes. Bring your plate to the check-out where they weigh your selections and then you pay. I really liked the quinoa and black bean cake and the artichoke-pesto lasagne (most excellent). Next, walk around the corner into their "cafe", and grab yourself a table and sit down in a casual and quiet space and enjoy eating your selections. Although it might get a little expensive, I feel like I could eat here every day.

Great variety of fruits, vegetables and groceries. Hot bar has delicious options (Cajun chicken has been my favorite). I enjoy the lamb patties in the deli section- ground lamb with feta, minced red onions, garlic. Very easy to cook at home. Staff is incredibly friendly. Try the smoothies- Avo Omega is my favorite especially on a hot summer day. Only downside is that it is expensive, good chunk of my paycheck goes here.

I am going to start off by saying that I live in Linden Hills and have a membership at the Seward Coop (not the Linden Hills Coop or The Wedge). It's really simple. If you want the best selection of unique, local and organic ingredients then your best option in the Twin Cities is the Seward Coop. It is my happy place. They have the most gorgeous produce in town. They also have an extremely friendly staff. If you care about where your food comes from and what to support a fantastic local business this would be a fantastic place to start.

Slow Friday morning at the co-op, nice time to visit the store... I thought. Then another all too frequent reminder that customer service is not a priority at this establishment. This morning, stood in line for 5 minutes or so while both 10 items or less registers where vacant and staff members unoccupied. Seeing no other customers approaching any line, we pulled our cart over and began unloading our groceries in the vacant express line. When our transaction was almost complete another customer approached to checkout. Manager on duty, Amanda directed the customer to her register and began openly talking about me and my husband to the other customer. After the tens of thousands of dollars my family has spent at this store, I really can't understand why staff would be so extremely rude - rather than facilitate a more convenient transaction when the capacity to do so was apparent. Time to shop somewhere else - where staff are encouraged to provide quality service and interact positively with customers.

A great community co-op with a wide selection of produce, cheese, bread and toiletries. As far as co-ops go in my experience this one is on the more affordable side. They print employees' pronouns on their name tags FTW. AMAZING bulk section too, and their hot bar/bakery/cafe is really good too. Lots of their ingredients and pre-made foods are East African as that's the single most dominant set of ethnic groups in the area, which is nice. Shop the sales and clearance too!

Hey! I really like this place. By the way, crowded parking lots and grocery aisles are a good things. I am sorry some folks never learned to park well, but that just makes it a little more challenging to shop. And just remember, good things in life can be challenging. Being a member is cool because I have a little ownership in an entity that is trying to do good things for people and the earth. I even like that I can "round" my grocery total up to help other folks eat. More people should round up. There is always something interesting and tasty to eat in the Cafe. I mean, where else can you get organic black beans topped with fried plantains & a drizzle of cilantro sour cream sauce for dinner. Think about it? Meats, vegetables, fruits, cheeses - Its all good. They even carry fresh Rustica breads! I love bread. So, go to the Seward and buy stuff. It helps everyone.

Love this place! Purchased some ground turkey from their meat/deli department to make for dinner as turkey burgers and have never tasted such fresh turkey meat. Not much fat and seasoned well! This co-op is pretty big compared to the co-op in my hometown in Sacramento. I love that there are so many varieties of fruits, veggies, etc. They even have a coffee shop located in the co-op! I wish I did a more thorough tour of the co-op although I'm sure I'll be back again!

Member for years now I go for the basics and sales. I'm tired of being asked to round up for the cause of the quarter they pick as if I don't know who to donate to locally. Now we are being nickeled and dimed for bags. The poor quality bread used for sandwiches here is my greatest disappointment any other minnneapolis co-op has better tasting and quality bread used in the grab and go sandwiches.

Great place to grab a healthy meal on the run. The market section is filled with all the delights you would expect from a good co-op.

I have a love/hate relationship with Seward Co-op. Love the option of prepared food in the deli/hot/salad bar. Dislike that the hot bar serves the same things all the time (regardless of season). This started maybe a year or so ago. There was more variety at the old location when the hot bar consisted of two hot pans. Hate that I see lots of folks eating entire meals at the hot/salad bar with the sample cups, yet everyone on staff pretends not to see and says nothing. Regularly see folks spooning food into their sample cup with the serving spoon coming in contact with the cup edge or wooden eating-stick-utensil-thing that they just had in their mouth. They then put that serving spoon back into the food. Not lying- I see it all the time. Love that they've packed alot of stuff in a small space. Hate that the majority of their clientele have no spacial awareness. Hate the parking lot. Folks like to move, then look to see if anything's in their path. Happens with unusual frequency here. Love that you can round up to donate when checking out here. Would like to see a wider variety of organizations on the receiving end however. In loving memory of North Country Co-op.

They have what strikes me as an exemplary selection of the fare one goes to a co-op for: mouth-watering and pricey. What really struck me (and the reason I wanted to leave a review) is that not only are their restrooms all-gender, but their staff's name-tags include their pronouns, and there are small signs by the registers requesting that if you are unsure of someone's pronouns, to please use neutral language. I would love to have an employer like that, so it's great to see it in practice here.

Damnit, Seward! Why can't I get in and out of this place without getting in someone's way? I'm small! I'm quick! This should be simple! It is never simple! Your parking lot is treacherous, full of oblivious backer-upers who don't check their blind spots and aggressive pedestrians who stare you down while you try desperately to keep from killing them with your 4,000 lb. machine of steel. Your aisles are JUST wide enough for two people to stand back-to-back to view either coffee (one side) or tea (the other) and just narrow enough for those two people to invariably knock elbows or carts. Or, god forbid, butts. I come here nearly three times a week and still have to search every aisle to find what I'm looking for. I avoid the bulk area whenever possible. There's usually a gigantic line of carts/loading carts/supply carts in the middle of this aisle, making a teeny tiny walking space that is usually jacked up with abandoned carts, chatting college students, and parents who don't believe in reining in their children's creativity with rules. Seward is turning me into a salty. Hater.

Let's pretend that Seward Co-Op and the Wedge were in the Olympics, the results would look something like this... Produce variety - Wedge, silver Produce presentation - Seward, silver Bread - Wedge, gold Deli - Wedge, bronze Bakery - Seward, bronze Cheese - Seward, bronze Meat - Seward, silver Seafood - Seward, bronze Grocery variety - Wedge, bronze (nb: more options isn't always better though) Frozen - Seward, silver Bulk variety - Wedge, gold Bulk presentation - Seward, silver Spices - Seward, silver Coffee - Seward, silver Wellness - Seward, bronze Prices - Seward, bronze Customer service - Seward, silver Store samples - Seward, silver Store aesthetics - Seward, silver Parking lot - Seward, bronze Website - Seward, silver If Seward Co-Op and the Wedge got into a *bar fight* at C.C. Club, the Wedge would win. ---- cross-posted to The Wedge review.

I made my first trip to Seward Co-op this past Saturday. It was disappointing and for many reasons. Before I write this review, I'll give full-disclosure and say that I've worked within the co-ops (not Seward) and currently work for a natural foods store. With this in mind, I know what I'm personally looking for. The lay out is nicely done although space is certainly at a premium. The produce was in nice shape, attractively presented but the selection seemed a bit limited (for instance, I couldn't find chives). Prices were, as to be expected from a co-op, expensive although it was organic and (mostly) domestically sourced. I work with cheese. So seeing a cheese counter is one of the things I always check out. There was an okay selection with your basics; nothing all that interesting or unusual for the co-ops to carry. I can say that based on the shape that some of the cheeses were in that they need to work on that - we're talking bries with brown rinds (a sign that the cheese is dying) and some smaller wheels of robiola and Langres that were soft and squished - easily about three weeks past their prime. While I was there, there were three girls behind the counter chatting with each other. Not even once in the five minutes I was there looking around did any of them say hello or make eye contact with me. Given how friendly everyone else was, this was particularly disappointing. Alright, so I still needed onion soup mix. Not to be found! My husband wanted a cup of coffee. Disorganized and a wait for five minutes of a simple cup of coffee? No thanks. I can grant that virtually any store will be having an "off" day, but this really seemed excessive. The co-ops walk a fine line between their roots where they would try to keep certain products in stock but air towards what would be the best deal for their members and their current state which are basically grocery stores dictates that they need more consistency.

This is my neighborhood co-op, but being a child of the suburbs, I've never really thought of a co-op as being something in the 'hood until I moved into the city. Oh Seward Co-op, I am torn on how to feel about you. I can only break this down into lists of ups and downs, and maybe we can reconcile. Ups: - It's a few blocks away from my house, making it an easy jaunt to pick up some things. - The hot bar with food is a great way to try out a lot of new foods, without me having to attempt to cook something, swear a lot, and burn my house down. Food doesn't taste as great when your domicile is a charred pile of rubble (and it makes your landlord mad). - I dig the dining area, not only as a place to nom upon the hot bar food, but to escape the house and get some work done. - Knowing I have a close-by spot to find foods or ingredients that the internet tells me "won't be found in [my] big chain grocery store." Downs: - Prices. Co-op, you are expensive. - Brands. Co-op, I don't know what half of these are, and that makes shopping take a long time. - Clerks. Co-op, your clerks are generally really odd. From the gal who talked about every item going down the line, to the soft-voiced dreadlocked hipster dude who blushed scarlet and turned around to talk to another cashier when I asked him a question, I just don't get them. - Chicken. Co-op, I am a lazy sod and enjoy picking up a rotisserie chicken on my way home and pretending like I am Ms. Suzy Homemaker. But your chicken was exhausted, dry, weeny, and disguised with approximately 30 pounds of rosemary. What? I would love it if the co-op did some kind of newbie training, like, "So you've shopped at Rainbow or Cub your entire life and don't know what half of these brands are? It's ok, let's all learn together!" I do feel welcome, way moreso than at the Wedge (where I will never be hip enough or ride enough fixed gear bikes), but I also feel lost and slow. Co-op, let's make this work!

Yes!!! Three blocks away from my house (please don't stalk me)...I love walking here on the weekends to pick up a cup of coffee and some eggs. They have a bunch of hot dishes and soups ready to eat, as well as amazing deli items including cheesecakes made of all natural beautiful things including beet sugar...weird and awesome. They have all local meat, and produce and eggs. The staff is really friendly, and pretty knowledgable. They also have bulk items including baking flours and sugars, teas, herbs, pastas, as well as soaps and a million other things. They give you a 10 cent discount for every bag you bring in (up to 5 bags) which is awesome! they have a great variety of frozen things as well, which is always good. My roomates mom is buying us a membership for christmas which is exciting, so when that happens we will get a little discount and help support a local business. This makes me happy.

CoOp's used to be the go to place for organic fruits and veggies, and I don't think they are as good as they used to be. In my opinion they are unfortunately in alot of ways becoming just another local grocer. I miss the days when you would see people inspecting and selecting the produce that wen't on the shelve's. I also miss the old locations, especially Seward and Linden Hills. However I'd still go to a CoOp anyday over a conventional store for fruit's and veggies. Seward is my favorite of our Minneapolis CoOps, I used to like Linden Hills too, but thier new store isn't as nice as the old one. While the CoOps are a bit pricey, the experiences I've had with say the fruit at Cub or Rainbow has been a complete waste of money as it tasted awful. I've even had peaches and pears from large chain stores in which the inside of them was rotting, yuck. I really miss Seward's old store near Milwaukee Avenue and the Seward Cafe, such a charming spot, really added to the experience. The new spot on the other hand is lacking neat surroundings, that is unless you consider housing project looking high rises and freeway exit looking roads interesting. It's still a good place to shop though, and is a place I'd recommend going to.

I really don't care for going to Seward Co-Op. They are so close to my house in the Cities, but I will drive out of my way to avoid them. Why? The milk and orange juice is close to $5 a gallon (usually more), the food isn't better than anywhere else, the bread is overpriced, old and stale, they offer nearly no lactose-intolerant products that aren't soy-based (and disgusting) and the people staffing the store are snottier than they should be, considering they work at a grocery store. I am disappointed nearly every time I go! I really don't go here if I can avoid it, though their saving grace is a great bakery that makes really tasty cookies (chocolate chip = excellent!).

I currently hold a membership with a different co-op because it was more convenient in my last neighborhood. Since I've moved, however, I have utilized the Seward Co-op countless times and plan on becoming a member soon. This place is clean, well-stocked, everyone is friendly, and it's a community gathering spot in addition to being a fantastic store. Plus, they've made several sustainable design efforts (rain barrels, for example) which is totally admirable. If you have any dietary restrictions, you probably already know that co-ops are one of the best and easiest ways to locate specialty products. Plus, they have an amazing produce section (which is particularly helpful in the winter months when farmers markets are no longer bursting at the seams with delicious everything). They have a top-notch meat/fish counter which has wonderful seafood and bison (the only animals I occasionally consume, and I feel way better about buying them from here!). Their deli selection and salad/hot bars are stupendous and make for great on-the-go meals. Also, I don't eat cheese but my man cannot walk into this place without sampling at least one fancy cheese and buying some to eat with crackers back at home. My budget has never allowed (and continues not to allow) me to do my shopping exclusively at the co-op (though I'd love to be able to buy their natural cosmetics, supplements, etc...someday!) but I always leave here feeling good about my purchases, and there are SO, so many reasons to keep coming back.

I like the Seward Co-op because it's not ridiculously snooty and they carry most of the co-op type items I like to buy. I dont need to go into detail but they have the organic veggies, the bulk stuff, and the Bearitos that keep my pantry stocked and make me feel good. What I must expound on is the excellent bread we bought there last week in the bakery. This loaf of bread was the most delicious, most scrumptious, most plushious bread you have ever eaten. Yes I said PLUSHIOUS and I will stand by that word until every last one of you has eaten it. I believe it was labeled 'rustic Italian loaf'. Go get it already, stick it in the broiler for 30 seconds with a little butter, garlic powder, and Parmesan cheese and voila!: plushiousity to the max.

When making the decision about which co-op to purchase a membership at, I carefully weighed the options. The Wedge and Seward are almost exactly the same distance from our house. Memberships cost the same. In the end I went with familiarity. Big mistake. I forgot how horrible the Wedge parking situation is and how insanely busy it always is. ALWAYS. Why is it ALWAYS busy? Seward has a slightly less irritating parking lot/street parking area. And it's MUCH less crowded. It very rarely smells of patchouli and BO, which is a huge plus. The new store is big and bright and shiny. I have the buyer's remorse.

Ahhh...Seward Coop...what can I say about you? Beautiful and varied produce - check. Great options for the meat lovers - check. Vegan and vegetarian options - check. Customers full of themselves - check. My god people, expand your brains to be aware of the people around you. When you take the time to fully read the label on the product you may or may not buy, get your ass out of the middle of the aisle along with your shopping cart. Granted the Wedgie is full of these people too, which along with the clusterfork that is their parking lot is why I never go to the Wedge. But Seward customers really need to pull their heads out and be aware of others in the store. Seward also has a great classroom/kitchen on the upper level that they really do not make the best use of.

I love the Seward coop- I don't think I have ever had bad produce and now that they have the bigger location, there are all kinds of great local and/or organic and/or free trade companies to buy from. Their cheese and produce sections are pretty extensive and awesome. They have convenient shopping cart sizes- baskets, double basket carts, and full carts. They have a lot of space for bikes outside. Cars can tend to get a little crowded, but people are usually quite friendly and good about driving and parking, so it isn't so bad. Membership is definitely worth it if you will be shopping here for any amount of time- $75 (last I checked) and you get quarterly coupons, the coop deals mailing, and member-only specials.. all of which should save you $75 well within one year.

Seward Co-op...how I adore thee... Coming from Wisconsin, my love for a broad variety of cheeses is well documented, and I can pretty much squelch any cheesy craving at Seward. The fresh chevre cheese that they package up is AMAZING. It's beyond amazing. I hate to put it on crackers to eat it because it destroys the awesomeness that is the cheese. The texture...the taste....but I think I'm diverging. Point: cheese = amazing Their veggie section is also just awesome. I currently have a squash in the oven from them, and it's just perfect. They have a wide variety, and very high quality. The prices aren't too crazy either. I love this coop. Since I'm still a lowly college student, I can't afford a membership, but no one has ever EVER so much as even given me a mention of it - all of my experiences with the staff have been amazingly helpful and lowkey. They know what they are talking about, and they aren't obnoxiously pretentious as I've experienced at other coops. *cough*WEDGE*cough* It's not as big as the Wedge, but it holds its own, especially in its new location. As for me, I'd go to Seward over the Wedge any day of the week unless I'm looking for some obscure item that I had already looked for at Seward and didn't come across. Not only is it closer to my apartment, but it isn't as busy, and it's not as huge and hipsterish. I almost get a "Whole Foods" vibe from the Wedge every so often, which is sad. (Although it does have such an epic variety! I don't mean to hate on the Wedge, even though I kind of am. It's awesome in it's own way.) Anyway, minus the ramblings: Seward Co-op - definitely with the stop. Even if it's only for the cheese department...mmmm.