The Dill Pickle Food Co-op

Visited from out of state and loved seeing a local food co-op, easy to walk to, super friendly staff, great deli food! It was an awesome way to see local products and support a small business, keeping my tourist dollars in the neighborhood while traveling!!

Sacrilegious to the name of co-op. Seen carrots so old they sag when you pick them up, steak straight from the store to our countertop with an odor, ALL of the bread is ALWAYS stale. Expensive low quality food. They are my closest grocery store, I would know.

"If this place was a girl, I'd date it". Lol This place is affordable and friendly I just can't stay away from here. Shout out to Josh, he was so hospitable and friendly, he need to get a raise or to be acknowledged for his work. I will be coming back again.

The feel of this place is nice as well as the concept of a co-op, and some of their premade sandwiches are really good, but it’s just too expensive to be a viable grocery option for most people in this neighborhood.

I read many great things about this place, so maybe they raised my expectation too high. There were less bulk items than I was expecting. There's not much different in selection and pricing from Whole Foods. It is not worth the drive to go here, but if you are nearby this is great neighborhood small business! The staffs are very friendly and helpful too. I was hoping they use less packaging and plastics from the local products too, but maybe that's Chicago's health codes.

Cute selection, very nicely stocked . This store is for an advanced cook . They got all types of stuff other stores really don't have . The prices sure are high but it's a pretty cool store to shop at .

I gladly spend my hard earned money here for good, local, quality organic products that are better priced than online/Amazon, and to support local/Midwest small businesses. Bulk galore. Artisan. CBD Oil. 1-Star less for restocking and cleanliness issues.

Great spot to find healthy and hard to find items. Very well organized. Obviously on the pricier end

I adore this neighborhood market. They have a good selection of quality produce, pantry items, and yummy ready to go meals. I especially love their chicken and dumpling soup!

Place was abundant with two things I have a hard time finding at overpriced Whole Foods. Eggs & pourable/organic raw honey. The herb section was quite decent as well. I have a hard time calling a store the be all end all the when needing organic things but this will suffice & can serve as a backup to any of the chain stores. It's worth noting that the prices are slightly cheaper here as well.

I went there late a few hours before closing time. The man behind the register was able to fix me a delicious italian sandwich, along with some fried pickles. Two thumbs up to the whole entire restaurant experience and obviously the food items. We'll go back for other delicious sandwiches. And this will be recommended to others.

So I'm obsessed with this sushi. It tastes so fresh. I can't believe how good this sushi is, it really blew me away. I got this sushi three days in a row. And I always get so much as there so many different flavors to try and they are all so so good. This is my favorite sushi I have ever had and I'm not the only who thinks so. My friend tried it and she was also surprised at how amazing this grocery store sushi was. The only down side is that it is a bit expensive, but for taste and freshness it's worth it. And it's always friendly and really kind service and this place.

A great place for specialty and hard to find items. It also is a co-op so it supports the community unlike big stores. The Dill Pickle has many interesting things. Lots of healthier and specialty things for certain diets. You can find many items made by local artisans and farmers. It has many items that aren't found it common grocers. Such a large amount of organic items. The prices vary. Many items are pretty expensive. The organics especially among these. Local items are a key attraction. They have so many and it's a great way to become familiar with all these. Gluten free items and other diets are represented and you can find something acceptable. There's also tons of vegan choices like not only food but also household items. Buying here benefits the area because it also supports many other businesses. It helps you learn about these and what they can offer. The prices may be high on certain things but most are pretty fair though.

I'm very confused about this store's ethos. The produce is extremely overpriced and almost none of it is local. It also goes bad very quickly. Only one farm is ever featured there, and they gouge the prices. It's a real shame because we don't have a ton of grocery stores in Logan. You would expect a small local grocery story- especially a co-op- to want to serve its community, but with the poor quality of produce and overpriced items, it seems this store is only serving itself.

As a longtime resident of the Logan Square neighborhood I used to frequent this place often. The atmosphere was welcoming and friendly. There was also a very eclectic and diverse group of employees working there. Now, I am just confused and flabbergasted because within the past couple years this place has gone completely downhill. The atmosphere is no longer positive and or excepting racist/rude employees (except the young man with braces at the check out he is very nice). It seems everytime I go in here I have a negative experience. This place is really going down hill and it is sad to see

Cute place with a seating area and wifi. Prepared food options are limited, but available. Wednesdays are $6 sushi, which is a huge perk and they have a good selection of bottle/can beverages as well as hot coffee. My interactions with employees were all quite pleasant.

Dill pickle has a great mission and a great store. The product and quality here of the food is great. The staff are always friendly and available. The produce section is great and they have a wonderful selection of cheeses. A small amount of deli items. The chipotle chicken salad they put out is fantastic. Never mind it's bad nobody get it it's usually sold out.... I love the fact we have a great little market with some local food and good options in Chicago in the Logan square area

Some of the prices are insanely high, especially on fruit and produce. But, they do have some decent deals every week if you check the flyer. The prepared food section is reasonably priced, and staff are friendly. It's convenient location, I just wish some of the prices weren't 2-3$ more than other stores.

what can I say? In terms of convenience, it is close to me. In terms of quality? It usually has the essentials. sometimes I run into some issues. For instance, I needed a can of soda for a barbecue recipe and all they had was some kind of probiotic cinnamon cola. It was really horrible and tasted like a Christmas cookie. on the other hand, that's exactly the kind of co-op experience I would expect, and now have come to love. it is a good place to get ethically sourced meat. My Thanksgiving turkey was chock-full of flavor.

It was pretty easy to social distance. There weren't too many people in there. It would've been nice to have an employee by the entrance enforcing masks, social distancing, and doing a head count like other places are. I appreciated that they tell guests alternative face coverings that are acceptable in the event they don't have a face mask. There was no hand sanitizer upon entry which would've been more reassuring safety is a priority here. They have curbside pickup available for those that want that too. You just don't see enough of that available at different businesses. Kudos!

I didn't even want to give this business a one star, if you have a disability, prepared to be discriminated against. They say they will accommodate folks but this was not the case. Won't do business again.

If you want berries that cost $100 a box and an unbelievably rude customer service experience, this is the place for you! The employees seem miserable and behave as though their misery is directly related to your audacity to stand in line to purchase something. No greeting, no hello, goodbye, no thank you, no verbally stating your total before running your card. Whole Foods is cheaper and despite their being owned by Amazon, I will be shopping there for organic groceries until something better opens up. One (mandatory) star for location and easy parking.

Incredibly condescending staff. Overpriced items considering you have lots of options elsewhere (and I shop at Whole Foods, and it's worse than WF by a landslide). I've never been treated so poorly in a grocery store. I asked the girl behind the deli counter a simple question and she looked at me like I hurt her. I was legit proud to support a locally owned spot in my neighborhood but until they lose the attitude, I'll find other spots I guess.

If I could I would give this place zero stars. I used to frequent the Dill Pickle when it first opened on Fullerton. They were reasonably priced and friendly. Now that it has moved and expanded it has changed for the worse. Besides the prices making me feel like I'm being violated (yes, some items are more than at Who Foods) the staff has attitude to match. Parisians aren't even this rude. I don't know why I keep trying...

Plenty of unique, LOCAL, quality, good-for-you products. Cheaper than Amazon -- COCONUT VINEGAR is cheaper by $3. BACH flower essences. Better than Amazon -- I haven't seen a display of CBD OIL since Barcelona's Hemp Museum. Amazon only sells Hemp. *yowzer!* Better than Whole Foods/Amazon + Mariano's -- $0.99 organic ramen, selections of RISHI tea in bulk, Chicago's exciting la di da coffee (Dark Matter, Metropolis, Abacus + new brands) in bulk, artisan KOMBUCHA on tap! ELLIS FAMILY FARM HONEY from Michigan on tap (has a spout) or bulk? *yeah!* CHICAGO LOCAL -- RED HEN's pretzel bun, WEST TOWN's Baquette, Chicago Co-Op Honey, CENTRAL PICKLING's organic hot giardiniera with only 243 mg of sodium. Gluten-Free $8.99 Pizza. GERMAN CHAMOMILE, huh? 2 sections of bulk ORGANIC HERBS that you can easily make your own potions. *double double toil and trouble* Drugstores have discontinued ACTIVATED CHARCOAL on their product list. 2+ options here. CUSTOMER SERVICE -- the only one to answer the phone and set aside products for you?!? Caring CASHIER took the time to check ALL lids are closed and never opened that she noticed I took a tester (oops, :-o). Meticulous bagging. 1-Star less as there is a problem with product restocking, bulk counter cleanliness/orderliness and obliviousness when empty.

This place is chock-full of everything that you really need to get going for healthy and tasty eating and living. The kombucha selection is pretty darn good. Everything is laid out quite well and it was very comfortable and attractive to shop in this location.

this place is full of the hard to find items . They have every kind of spice and many loose leaf tea to buy by the ounce . They even have spirilina and bee pollen and lots other cool things to add to smoothies . The also have honey from Chicago honey co-op . the staff is friendly and helpful . The prices are like Wholefoods but unlike whole food they have real soda . There are many great things to be found here . Parking is pretty easy

At first I didn't like the Dill Pickle. Then I realized I actually appreciate it. The first time I walked into the Dill Pickle, I suffered from sticker shock. As someone who shops sales and usually hits up at least two grocery stores whenever she goes shopping, I wasn't entirely fond of the prices and I walked out. Then I was back today because I was still suffering from too much prosecco on Friday night and I just wanted my favorite probiotic drink. And I didn't want to take a bus or a train to get to a grocery store. But then I remembered the Dill Pickle and I thought they might have it. So I walked the 5 minutes it took and I found my drink (!!!) and I realized what a godsend the Dill Pickle is. The closest grocery store to the Logan Square blue line stop is a train ride away at Belmont. The other closest ones are 30 minutes by walking or 30 minutes by bus. And here's a grocery store that has healthy food at reasonable prices. Instead of aisles and aisles of junk food, the Dill Pickle has healthy options on every shelf. Healthy options that can usually only be found in the tiny organic section at a regular grocery store or at Whole Foods. Their cheese selection looks great, I'm obsessed with their health drinks selection, and I'm definitely going to go back to take advantage of all the grain options and grain alternatives they have in those canisters. I definitely think I'll be coming to the Dill Pickle fairly frequently from now on.

The store is conveniently located right off of the train so I can grab something on the way home for dinner. They have interesting variety of options. I do find most items pretty pricy but since it's conveniently located I didn't mind stopping in after work. However, the last couple of times I bought produce from here I was charged incorrectly. The cashier charged me for the organic item which costs almost twice as much as the non organic produce. I wasn't able to catch it before I got home the first time which is unfortunate. Im not sure why they manually punch it in instead of scanning the item which resulted in the wrong price. I haven't been back since and don't plan on returning for this reason.

I do not understand how this place has 4 stars... it's SO overpriced. I've seen numerous items marked up over $5 of the normal price of the item. I try to avoid it as much as possible but sometimes I end up here grabbing a few items. This review of frustration comes after buying produce that barely lasted 24 hours until it went bad. I bought a bag of carrots that literally were disgusting when I opened them. I had to throw them away. Completely unacceptable. Not sure why people waste money here when they can go to the Logan Square Farmers Market or Whole Foods (actually cheaper). The employees are all pretentious hipsters - won't be going back.

Wow. No customer service. First time fine, second time well, give another chance, third time, never again! I ask about their bread, where is it made, any preservatives? The response, bread is made in Chicago. Um, hello, we are in Chicago. Not sure about bread, yes there are preservatives, but I think only good for a day. I go back in to buy coffee. Says on package 6.29, I get rung up it is 12 something. I say what is the 6.29? He says that is not the price that is the date. I say I don't want, today is 7/30. You think I wanted all his money the way he reacted. These kids have attitudes Thankfully, I never became an owner. Entitled, brats. Parents today, teach your children about kindness. I will never step in there again. Too bad, I was spending some decent money. Like to give to little guy, WF's better customer service.

This is prime example of a local grocer creating an 'elite' style network to simple human essentials with food. This place doesn't deserve Co-Op status with its outrageous prices. This is the Midwest y'all, we don't have a vast produce section that's considered seasonal year round. This is more like a 'Separatist-style' for children of the 1%. Get your priorities straight!!!!

I've been on the hunt for stores that actually sell in bulk. The Dill Pickle is superior to Whole Foods in that they actually let you bring your own containers. In addition to the grains/candies/beans they have a nice selection of harder to find bulk items; they stock laundry detergent, olive oil, vinegar, liquid Castile soap, and more! I'm excited to be able to reduce my packaging by refilling on basic household products here.

I've passed this market countless times, but I only decided to come recently due to a coupon they sent in the mail. I really wasn't sure what to expect before walking in. The store is very clean, and all of the items are neatly organized. Despite the compact size of this store, they fit almost everything you could possibly need into the store. My grocery list included items such as almond milk, salsa, meat, veggies, and a few other items. Some of the brands sold here are the same ones you will find at the Logan Square Farmers Market such as Co-op Hot sauces/salsas and Jakes Country Meats. During my visit, I was able to find almost everything from my list except for deli turkey, shrimp, and a couple of specialty items. The prices for most items weren't much different than bigger stores such as Marianos or Whole Foods. I would come back to Dill Pickle again, but likely only for my smaller grocery trips when I don't need a lot of specialized items.

A sensiblely sourced grocery store, how fitting seeing it pop up in Logan Square. Their selection is slim, definitely catered to more natural and organic leaning taste buds. If you are willing to shell out money to eat foods that are responsibly produced and sourced, you will love this place. In addition, this is a co-op, so you will find local produce and labels and some other from our neighboring states. Overall, a small business helping out other small businesses, how great! I will do my best to shop here to help the cause, but honestly it's a bit too costly for me to rely on this store only for all my grocery.

The Good: The Dill Pickle's new location fills a much needed void in the area it's in. It's so nice to have a grocery store in walking distance, and I love that this co-op is all about supporting local vendors. The produce section is solid, and I love the selection of local coffees. The store is laid out amenably, and the cashiers are so sweet and friendly. I have been very impressed with them. Additionally, I've taken home a couple of different prepared food items, including a pasta salad and a tuna salad that were both really tasty. The Bad: Well, I still wouldn't say I can do my everyday staples grocery shopping here. The frozen food section is pretty obviously geared toward those with dietary restrictions (Great news for Vegans and sufferers of Celiacs, bad news for standard omnivores like myself.) I also found I couldn't buy a standard loaf of sliced white bread here. I'm not even sure what to think of one brand carried that declares itself "Low Gluten." I didn't know bread could *be* low gluten. I was pretty sure that was an all-or-nothing kind of deal. The Ugly: oh man, guys. The prices are *rough.* A pint of Jeni's ice cream is over $10 (doesn't stop me from buying it because YUM but the state of my wallet is not good at all, folks). As for staples? A pound of butter, depending on the brand is as much as $7. I don't care if it's cruelty-free, locally sourced, or makes me grow angel's wings after eating it, no WAY am I spending more than double the usual amount on a pound of butter. I'll definitely continue to shop here for both convenience and for the unique options they stock. But the sad fact is I usually try to convince myself to get down to Tony's on Fullerton instead to save my money. Bummer. 3 1/2 stars but I rounded up.

Outstanding service! Wanted to return some stuff I bought (spent almost all of my money on my link card here on items that were too expensive and I really needed to buy groceries) I spoke with Theresa and she was very kind; offered me a gift card because they're not taking in person returns right now because of covid. Shop here a lot and the employees are always very friendly and sometimes even ask how my day is going. Appreciate this co-op :)

I am beyond disgusted with what happened to me at the Dill Pickle this week. I came into the store with my service animal. Let me begin by saying, my dog not only had her service vest on, as well as her service animal card, but I had proper LEGAL documentation in my coat pocket. I always bring her cards with me when I am going into an establishment with food as I am aware that animals are not typically allowed in such businesses. I was abruptly confronted by a tall male staff member who very loudly (to the point that it startled me) told me that "you're not allowed to have that in the store." I was so taken aback by the way in which he addressed me that I stuttered trying to get out the words, "She's my service animal." He looked at me like I was a liar and just stood and stared at us. At this point, I took out her identification card that explains her service animal status and what that means. This card also states the laws for service animals and businesses. He took the card from me, studied it for what seemed like minutes, turning it over and over again as if it was fake. At this point, explained that I have A DISABILITY and again said that she is my service animal. I felt uncomfortable to the point that I disclosed said disability to a stranger. I DO NOT HAVE TO DISCLOSE WHY I HAVE MY SERVICE ANIMAL. He then stared me up and down, handed the card back to me, and walked away. At that point, I almost burst into tears. I understand that people probably try to bring their animals into the store from time to time, but THIS IS NOT OKAY BEHAVIOR. For people with disabilities, both visible and invisible, being approached in such an aggressive manor can be very distressing. I cried my entire walk home because of this interaction. I can only hope that he NEVER does this to another person with disabilities ever again. Until then, I do not feel comfortable being a patron of your store.

This new addition to my neighborhood definitely has its heart in the right place. Unfortunately, that place is not the same as my wallet. So, now I present the heart versus wallet dilemma that Dill Pickle Food Co-op engenders. It leads to personal frustrations, I have to admit and I'm sure many others are having these frustrations as well. + Heart: Dill Pickle Food Co-Op has moved into a former food desert in east Logan Square filled with 7-11s and bodegas to buy food at (not the healthiest choices, obviously) with wholesome, healthy fare. + Heart: These products including, believe it or not, Earth friendly feminine hygiene products - not that I looked, or took pictures, or anything. Pretty much every imaginable product is available here in organic or just environmental form. + Heart: The store carries food grown by local producers (if you include Wisconsin, Indiana, and southwest Michigan as local at least). These range ice cream made in someone's kitchen (and it's great) to Rick Bayless' salsa. But it's the local small farm produce that wins my heart. In a day of factory farming where the former lifeblood of the Midwest is being driven into the hands of the machine, it makes me feel good to buy these local products to keep small farmers (and small businesses) around. + Heart: The co-op carries high quality bulk ingredients for those who like to cook. This does include readymade granola and oatmeal. + Heart: It's member owned (though you don't have to be a member to shop there), meaning that any profits they turn goes back to local individuals instead of nameless corporations (and, therefore, the college aged anarchist inside me says, the governance model of a co-op is tops)! - Wallet: For the same products as grocery stores, the store charges higher prices. For example, Amy's burritos are about .60 cents higher than at Strack & Van Til (the nearest large grocery store to Dill Pickle) and except for a few deals (bulk macaroni and cheese that's cheaper than Kraft), they don't have any sales. Heart, by pure numbers alone, should outweigh wallet. But, sadly, in this economy(...), wallet is a real consideration. Especially in the Square. Besides a few buildings, it's not exactly a neighborhood rolling in money. In general, it's going to take a real tree hugger to choose this store over ordering from Peapod (or going the 7-11 route). Personally, I'll keep going back for the products I can't get elsewhere. But as far as nationally available products, I'm going to look elsewhere. And that's a shame because my heart wants to see them make it, but my wallet (involved with the transaction as well) might not be able to help them do so.

While we didn't buy anything while we were there, I was amazed at the selection of foods they offer. In particular, I don't eat anything with milk products. Other than high priced places like Whole Foods and Fruitful Yield, I haven't found anywhere that offers a wide variety of vegan "dairy" products. That is, until we went here. If you go to the coop, don't expect a fancy grocery store. It is small, cramped, crowded and not beautifully decorated, Like smart business people, they stock what their clientele want and keep their prices low by not investing in making the place beautiful.

Big fan of their fresh-ground peanut butter. They also have a big selection of whole bean coffee from non-corporate companies, which is nice. For an organic-type shop they have pretty fair prices.

Where do I begin, amazing staff, local/organic products, unbelievable hot food, always having posters/info about local events and other businesses. This is one of the best grocery stores in the City. I have also been participating in their composting program, and I love it SO much! They make it so easy to just pick-up a compost pin, fill it up, drop it off, and get it a new one to start over. Would highly recommend participating in this program. They have also been very clean and diligent about keeping things sanitized during COVID-2019. Staff outside requiring masks, extra cleaning between check-outs, etc. Bike parking right in front and the staff is good about getting things in stock that might not be there at the time you're there.

I was so thrilled to see that the new larger Dill Pickle was opening down the street from me. This part of Logan Sqaure/Avondale has some great specialty grocery stores but is seriously lacking a regular one stop shop grocery store. The feel of the store is fresh and clean. They are still stocking shelves and figuring out the codes on the bulk, but for being a week or two old...I can't complain, right? I'm happy to see they are working on having a larger vegan section, it was lacking from their last location. The prices are decent considered it's a co-op. It would have been fantastic if the seating area was smaller and there were more options but time will tell as they continue stocking the shop.

I came here on a whim to pick up some items and while a small store I think they try to stock as wide an array as they can within their space. They only have frozen meats, but they're from local farms and I guess it saves having to buy a bunch of coolers and/or throwing stuff out. The prices though, are a little on the steeper side if you're not an owner. I ended up buying a bunch of Pork buns from Flesh for Food (they have a box every Sunday, and I ended up getting the owner's discount on that though. Staff was nice, but stationary. If I hadn't seen the buns at the counter, I wouldn't have found them. They were nice, but uninterested. Supporting local businesses and farms are all well and good, but the service and price is kinda iffy.

Very happy to have found this place by my gym. Logan is a grocery dessert but this place is very good. Despite not having the buying power of an Amazon Whole Foods, they easily compete and often beat price. Don't come here expecting cheap stuff. Go to Aldi if you want that. They have good quality stuff at reasonable prices.

Pretty cool lil grocery store. All local and organic. They have mason jars to fill up soap, Kombucha on tap, nuts galore, pretty cheap coffee $2! And they also make morning smoothies!

A bit pricey for everything but I get it. It's local and a co-op but they are very friendly. Good customer service. Small, cute, and everything you pretty much need for anything. Bought my necessities for the week. They're good people.

Tonight I was advised by a manager that I've been permanently banned. He collected photographs of me upon check out each time I visited and accused me of HISSING to his sales clerk. Most of the team members would begin a conversation with me and I'm very enthusiastic about alternative healing so I'm usually in a happy mood and if anyone asks me about working with energy I'm happy to share. I've never been treated this badly before where I'm told I'm not allowed to make a purchase. Many times I come here bring my own bag and the staff usually forgets to hand out a wooden pickle to donate to their local coop causes. The really nice people who used to work here have permanently left and for the past few visits here I simply come here to either purchase wet food for my cat or essential oils. Tonight I was not given a warning to tame down my silliness rather I was treated like a criminal and not allowed to buy any oils. I'm sure I'll find the oils I need on Amazon or whole foods though. I'm shocked that instead of being told not to talk to his unfriendly two faced staff members I was banned here for life. I will advise anyone here not to chat with any of the employees here because dill pickle coop is a privately owned business. In fact each and every time I made a purchase the cashiers would ask me if I'm a paid owner. It was beyond annoying being asked the same question repeatedly. There are so many wonderful stores In the city of Chicago that offer holistic wellness products so I strongly advise people not to shop here. The young kids who work here are absolutely immature and not even capable of giving shoppers and educational shopping experience. I noticed over the past two years there is a high turnover if fresh faces and absolutely no consistency with regards to merchandise being restocked on the shelves . I've never been banned from a grocery store before and I'll just keep people aware that your business here is definitely not appreciated especially since I must have spent well over 1,000 dollars purchasing essential oils here.

So, back in December 2009, Dill Pickle Food Co-op opened up a few blocks from where I live. I actually didn't realize it was so close by and never went to check it out. . . . until March of 2010. Just about everything is organic and sustainable and local where possible. The prices were high, but to be expected both from a quality and small-store standpoint. The supermarket options in Logan Square are very limited so it's good to have this just around the corner from us. There are a lot of different things packed into this small storefront, even if there aren't 20 options for each thing. For example, maybe there might be 5 peanut butter options compared to like 35 at Jewel or Dominic's, which, honestly, is fine by me. One thing I thought they did really well were the bulk options.

Finally after years of praying we now have a great department store in Logan square . Come here every week for groceries . The Hot bar is amazing and always have at least 2 vegetarians options every day . If you meet Joshua tell him he had to do 30 push ups with me the next time ;)

1 zuchinni + 1 red bell pepper ------------ $5 dollars One pound of non-heirloom, just regular old vegetables. Possibly organic. Five dollars. I really want to be part of a sustainable agriculture and business movement, but it has to be sustainable for me too! What community do they think they are serving with a dozen eggs at $6? There's a lot of good stuff, of course, the convenience most of all, and the produce can be quite amazing at times. The dried spices and nuts and beans are good to have nearby in such varieties, and the prices on those are Whole Foods-like, if not a tad above. But really, everything is more expensive, if you think about it: the brussels sprouts are $8/lb, triple the price at Trader Joe's, double the price at Whole Foods. The people who work there are smarmy, the condescention palpable. I'm sorry, I really try to be nice but they're ripping me off! Not sure who to blame: farmer friends have told me the markup is on the retailer/distributor's end. Local member-owned businesses should address the needs of the local community, and with prices this high, how can they? Jeez! Anyway, Dill Pickle, see you tomorrow! (Note: "Accepts credit cards," yes, with sizeable frowny-face guilt surcharge)

This place is rough. If you're going to be a store, you just can't expect the majority of people who shop there to be significantly involved. It's a recipe for a shitshow. http://dillpickle.coop/join/ I want to like this place but I can't figure out why I should join. On the rare occasion I need something specific, like TVP, I'm glad this place is around. But when I need something less specific, like tofu, this place disappoints. They always have tofu. But I would far prefer the normal kind a Whole Foods or even Jewel could be counted on to have. (1 lb in plastic tub of water for $2-$3 (Nasyoa, House Foods). Dill often does not have this and I'm looking at $5.99 for an exotic off brand of 3/4 lb extra firm). This is petty but when they don't have the basic stuff I'm going for, it's hard for me to keep going here.

Several factors will influence how enthusiastic you feel about Dill Pickle compared to other stores: --Do you prefer to eat primarily organic/locally produced food, or do you focus more on price and selection? --Do you prefer a grocery that you can walk/bike to in just a few minutes, or one with off-street car parking? --Do you shop for one or two mouths on a generous budget, or a family with a tight budget? I suspect for most of us, a mixture of all of the above influence our choices on any given day. Proximity matters most to me: Dill Pickle is a block away, so I can stop in any time. It's become my second "corner store." But it isn't that close to everyone, and many make decisions based in part on convenience. Most of the 1-to-3-star reviews focus on lack of selection and "high" price, and I've voiced such complaints at times too. But really, it seems unfair to compare Dill Pickle to supermarkets: the store can't be more than 1,500 sq. ft., compared to the 50,000+ sq. ft. of a typical Whole Foods. Space limitation naturally constrains selection and price--it's an economic reality, not a capricious choice of store management. Judging a store harshly on a criteria it can't be expected to satisfy seems unreasonable. When does it make sense to shop at the Dill Pickle? First, it works best for people who approach shopping in an old fashioned way: frequent, small-volume trips made on foot (or bike). I start at Dill Pickle for special things I can't find nearby, then stop at Albany Food and Liquor across the street (where they have an increasingly impressive beer, wine, and natural/organic selection, thanks to the competition) for more common things. And honestly, when I need a LOT of stuff, or I'm shopping for a party with many mouths to feed, I head to Tony's or Strack and Van Til. And when I have no time to shop, I use Peapod, or Irv and Shelly's, for delivery. Living in the city offers solutions for everything! The second factor for me is bulk. Dill Pickle has a fantastic bulk section: coffee, tea, grains, nuts, spices, and sundry other items--some of them unexpected. If you like to cook a lot, you should consider buying bulk spices and herbs in the small quantities you need. Over time you will save money not throwing out stale spices. (And really, how many of us ever need an entire jar of ground cloves, or whole allspice or nutmegs?) Someone groused that Dill Pickle's bulk section wasn't as large as claimed, but I bet they were imagining places like Whole Foods, which have HUGE bins, but really not that many discrete items considering the space they take up. Dill Pickle has tiny, space-saving bins and jars--but lots of them. I think it's important to point out a few other facts about the Dill Pickle that may influence your choice to shop there. A member share (NOT required to shop there) is $250, payable all at once or $50/yr for five years. Membership seems to entitle one to limited discounts, but the main reasons to join are 1) you want to support the local venture; and 2) your share entitles you to profit sharing if/when the venture becomes profitable. Your profit is based on how much you spend there, so membership makes the most sense for folks who plan to shop there a lot. Basically, the Coop is borrowing your $250 for as long as you let it--if you want to quit, you can have your share refunded. So you have little to lose by joining--and you might just make a few bucks while supporting a locally-owned business. (Disclosure: at the time of this review, I am NOT a Dill Pickle member, but I am considering the five-year plan.) (Update 11/11/11: I am now a Dill Pickle member, but I stand by this review in its entirety.)

Organic, locally grown produce, and only a few blocks from my house. That's definitely worth three stars. However, since Dill Pickle has had some time to settle in, they could do a few more things to make the store accessible and welcoming to the surrounding community: Lower prices, especially on prepared or packaged food items. For example, I should have to pay twice the Whole Foods price for a can of tuna. I realize WF has economies of scale, but certainly not 2x thereof. Improve staff diversity. That shouldn't be difficult, since every person I've seen there was white and under 35. Your choice of staff doesn't send a welcoming message to the surrounding community. How about someone who is a working-class Hispanic resident? I would love to see someone over 50 working there. Staff diversity is the norm in co-ops I've visited in San Francisco and Seattle, and have no idea why more of an effort is not made at Dill Pickle.

I love this place and stop here every time I go to Chicago. Of course, it happens to be around the corner from my best friends apartment. But that being said not only does it have the coolest name but it has a great variety at super fresh and local food and produce. They have about 20 varieties of kombucha! They also sell wine and beer which is awesome. I like that if you bring your own bag and save giving you money they actually give you a choice to donate to a variety of charities of your choice. I also find the prices pretty reasonable for organic options. The best part is that even though it is a co-op you do not have to be a member in order to go in. This place seems like a great addition to the neighborhood. They also have some homemade foods that I have found to be very fresh and tasty.

I'm pissed. Because I want to like this place, have tried to like this place, even have acquaintances who helped start this place, but it is just a fail. I have shopped here four times and: I'm sympathetic that with such a small business and with organic foods, produce is going to rot on the shelf and prices are going to be high. I give them a pass for that and just purchase the firmest produce I can find there. But I'm totally uncool with buying a big bag of bulk organic almonds, getting home and finding they are totally rotten. If you cannot keep bulk items fresh - that is just bad business. If I lived around the corner from the store, I'd have made four or five returns of various purchases. Instead I shlep my butt over there to support the store and have no energy to shlep back. When will I learn to stop shopping here?

I have a problem with bulk. I'd like to blame my childhood of weekend trips to Sam's Club where beautiful aisles of massive multiple items towered above me... but instead, I'll just own up to it. I simply love bulk. So when I discovered the bulk supply of delicious granola at the Dill Pickle, my heart was set aflutter. Multiple varieties all ready for the seizing--I had to resist dumping handfuls into my mouth right there in the aisle. There was also bulk tea next to delectable coffees, so I may have found the aisle I'd like to live in. If you're like me and sometimes a little Grocery Shopping Stupid (please imagine me standing in the middle of a baking aisle, totally overwhelmed), check out the Dill Pickle's Basic Needs program. Basic Needs items like spaghetti sauce are marked throughout the store so you'll know just what you need. The items they've chosen are the reasonably-priced ones too, so you won't break the bank stocking your shelves. The prices match the great quality of local and organic produce and products you'll find at the Dill Pickle. It's great to know that this local shop has finally brought something that this neighborhood had been missing and is supporting local farms and individuals while at it!!