I love to diversify my bachelor diet with a trip to this grocery every once in awhile because I know everything on the shelves is better (in some way or another) than the crap I would otherwise be eating. Madison Market has to tackle the difficult job of pleasing a very diverse community of conscious consumers, and they do a great job. Health-conscious, earth-conscious, vegan, omnivore, yuppy, poor, trendy, nerdy, allergen-sensitive, raw foodists...the people in the checkout lines are as diverse as the inventory. For instance, there are about 80,000 different types of mayonnaise here...it seems there is one brand for each genre of consumer. The produce is excellent as is the assortment of prepared salads, sandwiches & wraps in the deli. As expected, the bulk foods section is large and fantastic. The customers and employees here are also extremely friendly and there is literally a community of Seattleites who love this store and want you to love it too. Loyal Madison Market shoppers swear they don't pay any more here than they would at the evil grocery stores, but it seems like my credit card is frowning whenever I pull it out at Madison Market. Here's why: if you care about what you eat...Madison Market is a great value because you can shop here and eat guilt-free. On the other hand, if you don't mind eating (cheap) crap, Madison Market is expensive because you can find crap elsewhere for cheaper, but remember....Madison Market crap really isn't crappy to begin with. read more

I like this place a LOT. It takes me back to my childhood, when Mama and I would take our burlappy sack and trundle down to the Wolf Moon Bakery and Food Co-op in Lansing, Michigan, and get excelllent full fat yogurt that fairly bustled with live cultures, handmade cheese (in the days before anyone had heard of Neal's Yard Dairy), fresh organic produce, and bulk bulghar, lentils, etc. CCMM has, in addition to the items mentioned about, a quite nice butcher/fish counter, oils and olives and whatnot, health and beauty aids (including bulk shampoo and conditioner!), candles, hippie-healthy snack foods, and a neato selection of wine and beer. Alas, my one quibble is in agreement with mairead c. - what is up with the staff? It's not like I am even close to being the most elderly customer in the place, and yet I seem always to be treated with barely-veiled condescenion. One checker spent time carefuly explaining to me - in slowly enunciated words of one syllable - just what a food co-op was. Hello?!?!?! I'm in the store! I think I might get it! Another checker did the whole "do you need help, dearie?" routine, which - given that I am a robustly muscular 5' 8" with shoulders like Dick Butkus and hammy Viking-long-sword-ready hands - was patently ridiculous on the face of it. This doesn't happen every time, but I'd say it's about a 2 out of 3 visit phenomenon. Otherwise, I really love this place. It truly is NOT much more expensive - if at all - than QFC, and impluse purchases, unlike at Safeway, for instance, are usually pretty healthy. (No two-for-six-bucks Chubby Hubby, f'rinstance.) And I just feel good about throwing my not-inconsiderable grocery dollars at small, local producers and growers, and getting local produce, and foods that are less industrially produced. read more

Well, I was accosted today in the cheese cooler area. Yes, I realize this has nothing to do with the quality of food but the fact that nobody seemed to notice when a woman came up and yelled obscenities at me and then pushed me into the cheese cooler/display is just not okay. Someone was stocking food half an aisle away and you would think that someone yelling the "P" word in a market would get some attention. Apparently not in this neighborhood. Never giving this place another shot. Never. read more

Mmkay, This place is ever so cool and it's the only other food co-op in Seattle other that PCC and PCC no longer advertises that it's a co-op. Not cool. Central Co-op's Madison Market is cool because they focus on community outreach and offer local organic food. They have the largest raw foods selection in Seattle. It's a union shop. Most employees have been there forever which tells me they love the co-op and all of the employees, ALL of they employees are super extra hot. Did I mention that it's owned by the community, and not by some unknown old white guy getting rich off of our money? Anyone can be a member-owner, even crazy pants me.Sexy. I have been shopping at this neighborhood hub for six years and I'm not ever going to stop. That is why I shop co-op, not corporate. read more

There are some things that are really great about Madison Market, like their bulk section, the availability of meat that is local, organic, and grass-fed (and like three times more expensive than evil meat), their huge cosmetics section, their kombucha selection, and their produce. However, it is expensive and most of the people who work there need to CHILL THE FUCK OUT. Every time I have to tell them I'm not a member they stop being friendly (for the most part). PS: Never go in there with a Trader Joe's bag. Hit the MM first for fruit and veggies, and proceed uphill. Trust me. read more

Grocery Juggernaut There's a lot to say. I was a daily visitor to MM before I moved out of the neighborhood right around when the Trader Joe's opened. I had a love/hate relationship with MM as it changed from the Central Coop to the struggling-to-stay-open MM to where it is now. I stopped by there for some bulk food the other night, and was so overwhelmingly surprised, I think I'm going to make it a weekly trip. I work in Fremont, right near the PCC, and I've grown to avoid hippie markets because of their prices. I drive past PCC multiple times daily, and rarely stop in for groceries (their deli is sweet, however). Getting back to MM, my intention was to grab the bulk stuff from there and then stop at a Safeway for the rest of my ingredients. I was 5-star happy to see that MM's prices on normal stuff is as low, if not a dime or so lower, than Safeway's. The combination of MM and TJ's makes up the city's only grocery juggernaut. You can park once, and get anything you'll ever need. Bottom Line: What are you thinking shopping anywhere else? read more

we finally got tired of PCC and how un-"coop" they were, so moved our business and bought a share in Central. I really like this store now. I think they have rebranded themselves from "Madison Market" to "Central Coop"? Everything seems a bit more polished, from the sign outside to the displays inside and even the customer service is a bit better than I remembered. LOVE LOVE LOVE the produce and bulk and dairy. The prices are pretty competitive (at least on what we buy) and I prefer the vibe of the store infinitely more than the weirdo feeling i always got at PCC. Plus, it's a reason for us to leave the Valley and go to the Hill and make an afternoon of pizza and beer at Big Mario's and then do some grocery shopping. I haven't checked out their deli (prefer to cook at home), but I have had a few espresso drinks and I have to say that I'm not all that pumped about it. A man with muttonchops gave me some really iffy service (it's always the dudes with the 'chops) and I saw a lot of Tony's bags (really unimpressive coffee that is also used in PCC's coffees)... is there a reason that they don't use Equal Exchange? they've got a Portland location, they're a cooperative, and the coffee is leaps and bounds beyond Tony's... All said, if you were to give me a hundo and tell me to go get groceries, I'd be here in a heartbeat. read more

This place is amazing. I hiked Mt. Rainier and the lunch food came from here. I'm from the Dallas area and I wish we had this. I found many unique food items and all healthy. I'll be back next time I'm in town. read more

Oh man, I'm from the Seattle area and haven't lived here for many years, and I'm sort of an upper-middle-income foodie, so I have ironic critical distance from the things upper-income foodie types like. This place is quintessential upper-income foodie Seattle and I would shop here every week if I could, but it makes me laugh. Plenty of great fresh and local foods (my god, the cheese selection! Yes!), and lots of bulk and organic items. I walked past a customer asking for Palestinian olive oil and the staff person asking management about it (they were out at the time). I thought, "these are my people." The parking is free, the staff is friendly, and the pricing is steep for those who aren't members. The deli is fantastic. Great bulk section. Very strong beer and wine sections. The selection of high-quality foods is great. We have gone more than once to the coffee bar for the ginger steamer: lemon, ginger, cayenne, apple, honey. It's freaking delicious and invigorating for those of us with sinus stuff going on. I love this place so much. read more

They have a fantastic array of body and face wash (even moreso than Whole Foods). The quality of the fruit is good, but it's a limited selection. The variety isn't as large as I'd like it to be. They also have a great selection of wines. Yum yum! read more

Madison market is a dump. It looks good from the outside and on their website, but the true experience is a big let-down. I was told to check out their bulk selection so I went there to find some mixed nuts that weren't loaded with salt that I could snack on during the week. They had a surprisingly small selection-mostly different types of flavored almonds and not much else. You barely could find cashews and peanuts there, much less anything out of the ordinary. The cashier was extremely snippy and seem to resent me for buying items with price codes he had to type in (don't blame me, that's how your employer set it up). Also, it turns out that the nuts at Trader Joe's were 1/2 the price. They had had a far better selection and most nuts had raw, lightly salted, and regular versions. read more

Unsafe store. Employee wandering around without face mask. Talked to manager and was advised they have a "medical" condition and aren't required to wear a mask! read more

I love the Madison Market. They have a good range of products, friendly staff and I get to feel good about where I shop. Member owners get monthly 10% off plus lots of discounts. read more

I always leave Madison Market feeling like I have more energy than when I came in. This has become a place for me to rebalance and get a fresh juice when I've had a tough day. My experience of the staff has almost always been positive, and observing them conduct themselves with positive energy always inspires me to slow down, calm down, and just enjoy things. LOVE their fresh juice counter. Honestly I have not observed the products to be more expensive than QFC. Of course poor quality food is going to be less expensive, but I've found that produce, household goods, beauty products, health foods, deli items, breads, and almost everything else is as expensive at QFC. Unfortunately I can't afford to buy everything here. Some foods and especially household products I have ot buy at Trader Joe's, because I'm poor and there's no way around it: TJ's is a great deal. However, I often feel very frazzled when shopping in TJ's, it's always jammed with pushy people unless you go in the middle of a weekday. I do not have this experience at Madison Market, even when it's crowded and/or I have to wait a while in line. And somehow, this is the only place I can think of where it doesn't drive me fucking mad to have to stand in line. Always a lot of interesting people-watching and fashions to observe while biding the time, and I can sip on my delicious fresh juice as well. read more

I'll get slammed for this, but whatever... Initially I thought of Madison Market as a Hippie Market and dismissed it for a while. In the past year I educated myself on healthy eating. This is now the place I go to! Minus getting my TP here, because WTF, I like cheap soft TP! I get mostly everything edible from Madison Market, it also has one of the best deli's around. I never feel gross after eating from the deli. The bulk section is also sa-weet! And no, I'm not a member. Someday, for now I'm just too lazy. read more

I SOOO appreciate the opportunity to honor and patronize non-establishment stores! Healthy good food. Bulk food. Staff who is not so unionized that they couldn't be bothered to care. PHEW! Thank you. read more

I stoppped in real quick for a couple of vegan goodies to bring home. I will be in the neighborhood for some volunteer work for the next 6 weeks. I only had 15 minutes to spare today and wanted to check it out. I am so mystified by the way I was treated at the register that all I remember is the bad energy that's been haunting me since I left. I've never been asked to go do my own price check. If the sale prices are for members only, that's cool. Whatever. But don't have me go check to see the price I just told you, and then wait in line again for another cashier. No thanks. Thats the only $5.00 they'll ever see from me. If I looked that haggard I guess I might be kinda pissed too. read more

Do not shop here! The food is great but the employees are awful! They refused to sell me alcohol because they said I was with the woman in front of me in line, and wanted to see her ID. When we explained that we weren't together they still refused me and told me not to come back to the store that day. This is a regular spot for me, and sadly they will be losing my business. read more

I discovered the Madison Market one day while on lunch break at work. The sandwiches at the deli are super delicious and fresh. I like that they support local farms and healthy, organic products. Many of the deli items are geared toward vegans. The prices here are a bit higher than your ordinary grocery store. But you get what you pay for. I know that all the grocery items there will be fresh and healthy. I wish I lived closer because I would shop here all the time! read more

Is it just me, or does this place smell funny? When I used to live on the hill, I lived about a block from here. This was the place I'd go when we were out of milk and needed some ASAP (the cereal ain't gonna go get it for me, know what I'm sayin?!). They have other stuff here too besides organic no hormone milk, but I prefer to do my shopping elsewhere. Too pricey for what is there, especially since there is now a TJ's right next door. read more

Although the prices here are a little steep... you're a block away from a Trader Joe's and just two blocks from a Safeway. If you prefer to save money on your food then you are not out of luck. However - if you're looking for quality and more health conscious options, Madison Market is great! The service is always great, the food is good, and my favorite; the ready-to-go deli food is REALLY tasty! I find myself rushing over there when I have to host some friends or don't have time/energy to cook my own dinner. Sometimes deli food (even at Whole Foods) is nasty. I've never had a bad experience with any product at Madison. All in all it's a great little store! read more

A moment of irony, if you will: most of the staff can be seen outside smoking cigarettes on their breaks. Thank you. Vegan options are hard to come by at Trader Joe's, but that is certainly not the case with Madison Market. Both stores carry the same vegan natural buttery spread, but TJ's sells it for less which makes me heart them. But TJ's does not sell plain soy yoghurt or bulk granola, so I heart Madison Market even more. For everyone that complains about price, stop for a moment and actually look at what you buy. If your shopping basket is usually full of prepared and packaged foods, then chances are good you will whine about how much you're paying at the check-out. But if you take the time to prepare your own meals, then you realize the economics of buying bulk items from Madison Market. In other words, don't bitch because you're lazy. While you're at it, shop farmers' markets for deals on local produce. Honestly, people. read more

I shop here everyday. Once in a while I go to Trader Joes, but I get all my meat, veggies, and dairy from Madison Market. Lots of folks seem to have issues with the staff. There are a few people that work there I avoid when paying for my goods, but there are also some really nice folks that work there. Maybe it's because I'm a regular, but I've never had a problem with the staff. I can't give it more than 3 stars because the problem I run into is consistency. Often times they will put under/over-ripe veggies and fruit(literally rotting fucking fruit) in their produce. Expired milk and eggs have ended up in my grocery bag more than once. And the seafood selection is just fucking pathetic(we live in Seattle!!!!). read more

Basically I am in love with this store... which makes me ignore their shortcomings... like how their deli is not open until 11pm like PCC's or how they do not have as many salads to choose from... There is so much to offer~ * Great bulk food section- which offers my addiction of organic unsugared dried Mango and cool hippy style granola blends in addition to all the regular offerings. Also~ *They have a bigger bar/meal replacement/natural style candy bar section than any other place I have been *They offer fake beef jerky in little bags of flavored pieces and also in the strip style *They have lots of to go food from places like Chaco Caynon etc. *They have a good beer and wine section *They have a good raw and gluten free section *They have a good meats and produce section *Limited bakery with enough choices to offer selection- espresso- and a section to sit and eat The clerks and staff are always nice and welcoming. One even let me stash a Jameson bar sign I had picked up off the street for free behind the membership counter as I shopped. This is the place that I stop in at and buy all the randoms... DRY soda, salads by the 1/2 Pint, homemade macaroons, raw bars, dried fruits, cans of oysters, "beef" jerky, prepackaged Indian meal on sale, etc... FYI's~ * Prices on some things are obviously higher... you are shopping at a Co-Op that is tiny... * Open until 11pm- woo hoo * Free parking behind the store in the complex * Don't have to be a member- they seem to only ask once in a while read more

Whats not to like about Central Co-op? - veggie/vegan fare aplenty - fairly large selections for raw foodies - freshest veggies! - hipster cashiers - its ridiculously close to Healeo! I've always found some the most random and unique bits of packaged foods here to sedate that semi-inner-hippie in me. Along with lots of bulk items, local organic cookies and bars, and one fabulous organic wine section Madison has got it. Most of it all it contains that small local charm to its neighborhood: Central District/Capitol Hill that brings in the local hipsters, urban hippies, earth yuppies, and people such as myself who just wanna be part of the culture! read more

I love the fact that if I want to find something that is organic and probably in some alternative hippie recipe I am using I can find it here. They have really good organic free range meat that comes from a local farm, it is superb, but SUPER pricey. Their produce section is very aesthetically pleasing, but I never feel like they have a tip top selection. Their bulk food section is awesome, with wonderfully addicting things like chocolate covered apricots and dried strawberries. Yum! Somethings are priced decently but most things are pretty expensive. Too bad this place is so pricey I would love to shop here exclusively. read more

I love having the co-op nearby, but lately I've been working to make sure that it is not my primary destination for groceries. On the positive side: the staff is helpful and friendly. Their produce quality is excellent, and their meats and seafood are fantastic. Their bulk section is quite good, especially for granolas. The co-op is engaged with the community, which I appreciate. On the negative side: Food is expensive, and prices are regularly higher than comparable products at other neighborhood grocery stores. Bottom line: If I had a hard time finding cheaper food of this quality, I'd be giving the co-op five stars. Even Safeway's produce, though, is usually comparable in quality and, if you pay attention, you can choose local products -- and it's vastly cheaper (think 20-40% cheaper for the same items). As a result, I buy mostly of my meats and seafoods here (the price premium for these is, in my opinion, worth it), cheeses, some granola, occasional produce, and occasional prepared foods or breads here, and try to do the rest of my shopping elsewhere to save. On a minor note, they used to do a monthly owner discount coupon but now do quarterly discount weeks. Sadly, these are a lot less useful than the coupons since they are often shortly before a trip (so no point on stocking up on groceries) or during a trip (so can't go). read more

Staff is not only friendly but they really know their products. If they don't have something, they can add it to special order just for you. It's the only store that I feel like I could close my eyes and grab random things off the shelves and be stoked on what I got afterwards. Plus, they have a juice and coffee bar in their deli. Oh. And they're open til 11pm!! :) Love them! read more

Madison Market is a gem. Local, thoughtfully-sourced goods and a great store in which to house them. I've never had anything but great service from the employees there, and appreciate the pleasant change of pace and shopping atmosphere from the big chain stores. This is a place to slow down, THINK about what you're buying, and enjoy the experience of doing so. I only wish there was a bit more variety in a few places, particularly in the bulk personal care products section. Otherwise a big, big recommendation for more people to not only shop there but become MEMBERS there - it creates more support for the co-op, and then you officially have a voice in how things operate over there. You certainly can't say that about your Safeway membership. ;) read more

I love this store! I shop here almost daily and the staff always says hi to me in the aisles. I think it's funny when people complain about the parking garage. Hey! It's free parking on Capitol Hill! And what is with people expecting the cashiers to pack your groceries for you? Come on lazy, do it yourself and the lines will go faster. It's a co-op, chip in with some teamwork. Try the soups, they're delicious. read more

* Incredible selection. * Prices less than or equal to QFC and Uwajimaya on most items. * Highest quality food available. Comparisons with Trader Joe's miss the mark. A lot of Trader Joe's food is not 'healthy' in the modern sense of the word. I'd be hard-pressed to survive on what Joe offers. Try to find fresh bread at Joe's or QFC that is not overloaded with salt and who-knows-what-other garbage. Taste an orange from the co-op and rediscover what oranges are supposed to be. Then a tomato. And a lime....and more. The co-op fills different roles. It was one of the first retail establishments to encourage customers to move away from single-use shopping bags. Other innovations include preferences for and labeling of items that are locally produced, in season, and low salt or gluten free. The connections Central Co-op is building with local producers will hopefully provide some food security in the event of food or fuel shortages. The co-op is a place where experiments are tried that sometimes won't work. The place has a different vibe -- where employees are more likely to look (and act) like artists and free thinkers than corporate drones. If you want a uniform corporate experience, nearby chain stores offer merchandise from global brands in an environment that is sanitized, anonymous and rigidly controlled. If you have problems with customer service -- do something about it. Talk to someone at the front desk. Related: Get involved. Find out how you can participate in the co-op. Your co-op. Our co-op. read more

Would love to shop here but inconsiderate non electric car owners constantly park in the electric car spaces. Asked the manager if they could at least make an announcement or say something and he said no but they were aware of the problem. read more

I love Madison market. I may only live about a block away but I always went when I lived further away too. They always have whatever veggie/vegan product I'm looking for which is important. They also have an amazing bulk section from which I always get many little bags of yummy snacks and granola. Bulk wasabi peas?! Amaaaaazing. The bulk spices are also amazing. I can as little or a much as I want for whatever i'm cooking. They also have a great selection of herbs and tintchers. Yay! Their employees are usually on the friendly side and always willing to answer my stupid questions or tell me where things are. Go co-op! read more

Reasonably priced juice bar, delicious deli and soups. Excellent raw vegan options. And other health conscious or small scale original products. Decent bulk food and spices section. If you are cooking or prepping food they have a reasonable amount of useful last minute items and also things to prepare ethnic cusines. Madison Market is like the quintessential co-op that started back in the 60's or 70's. They have updated and keep things fresh and innovative but still have the local values from back in the day. Madison Market is far cleaner and better organized than most of the many Co-ops I've been to. That said, it is fairly small compared to like a more major grocery store, more like a large corner store-size. The variety is very good.. but often only a few choices or brands of say raw goat cheese or humus (sprouted or not). Great Organic Produce and some speciality/exotic produce. Good quality and well cared for. Beer and Wine selection is very good for the size. And Beer such as Guinness and La Fin Du Monde are reasonably priced compared to competitors. They also have things like frozen pizzas, chips and ice-cream if you need a simple corner-store "fix." The herbs and supplement section used to be amazing, but I've seen it not keep up as well in useful NON-Fad herbs and supplements as similar stores like PCC and Whole Foods. Perhaps because there is a great herb and supplement place Rainbow a few blocks away on 15th, there isn't as much demand. But I do wish they would bring this section up a notch. They do have a good selection (useful, health-minded) bath and body products. They offer parking in a small compact garage that can be a challenge to get into. Please bring patience and attention when you pull up into the drive. read more

Great place for unique foods you can't find at the nearby trader joes or safeway. This isn't a place to buy everything, but that's not the intention. They have fantastic cheeses, condiments, alcohol, and great fruits. I'll definitely be making this a regular stop on my weekly grocery runs for those interesting things they have. They had a mead tasting the day I went. For all these reviewers complaining about price - do you see safeway offering a mead tasting? I'm a pretty critical and cheap person, and I'll say it's definitely worth going here. Everyone here was also super nice, so I don't understand these reviewers saying everyone looks sad - maybe they're happy now because the sun is finally out? read more

Better than Whole Foods and a Co-op to boot! This place rocks, if I lived here I would shop here every day. Their deli section suits every need from vegetarian to vegan to gluten-free. They have a great bulk section as well and the tea's they have area all amazing. The staff is helpful and friendly and they even sell delicious local beer and wine (Jasmin IPA was my personal favorite). This is a one-stop shop for all your grocery/ indulgent needs. read more

This place has a great selection of everything, and is a great substitute for Safeway. Check out their of wine / beers; there's a great selection of imports that are hard to find elsewhere. Since I live in Trader Joes, I don't need to shop here too much, except when looking for some obscure fresh herb (they probably have it), but each time i have come, I've left particularly satisfied, knowing that I live so close to a place like this. read more

Man, it looks like a lot of folks are pretty upset about the customer service at a grocery store. I admit they aren't the most pleasant here, but there are a few nice employees. and really, who goes to a grocery store for the service? Isn't that part of the point you, are servicing yourself? Anyways about the actual store. Its pretty fantastic, i trust the food and the business. That's a great feeling to have. I know whatever i buy won't have a bunch of crap in it. From the meat to packaged goods down to the bulk and produce section. Its all quality. And yeah some of it is a bit more expensive, but not by much, and that's why you shop for the sale. They usually have great biweekly deals and if you are a member you get more deals offered specially to you. Their bulk section is great, I really like the liquid bulk section with olive oil, apple cider vinegar and such. They even have bulk soap! i will be the first to tell you the exact same items for cheaper at QFC or the farmers market but then theres a convince factor there. Do you want to go to two stores to save 1 dollar or just one? Sometimes i feel like going to two. Some of the downsides are selection it can be limited at times, for examples bulk teas. As much as i like what they offer I could use a few more options. Another one is bacon, they only have a few different times. Also, the beer is about a dollar more then QFC so that would make my life easier if they was a bit cheaper. They could also be closer to me but thats really my fault. Overall great place, doesn't warrant a five as they do have some work to do. but being a member helps and having wine tastings every other saturday is pretty great too. And please don't let the customer service of a place where you are supposed to do all the work keep you from going. read more

I've been shopping here for years, and I am very happy to have these guys in the hood. With so much cr@p disguised as food these days, it's great to have someone trustworthy curating my food supply. Luckily, these guys answer to the community, not a remote wall street analyst. Being a small local operation might mean that their employees might not be as uniformly trained for speed as, say, Safeway's or Whole Foods', but they do seem to care about honest, quality food, and I trust these guys to put good stuff on their shelves. So far, it's been great. I hope they keep selling good, honest, delicious food for years to come. read more

I'll be upfront and admit I'm not a fan at all of the upscale Whole Foods Markets, with their distinctly gargantuan, corporate, claustrophobic stores--more like department stores in scale--n the Roosevelt district and in South Lake Union now...and all over the U.S.A. now. (The few times I've ventured into Whole Foods, I have always tried to get out as soon as possible). A member here for over ten years, I have always been impressed by the spirit of cooperation and concern for health, rather just the bottom-line, at Madison Co-op that I find here shopping. The array of natural remedies and supplements is unparalleled (though PCC's might be as good--I don't have one in my neighborhood to compare). I have been able to find all the supplements for my 19-year-old cat here, ones that I could never find in a drugstore. The bread selection is very good, much better than Safeway or QFC, including La Panzanella (the Italian bakery that used to be only a few blocks away). Though prices are relatively high for produce and natural foods, they are no more than they would be elsewhere. And their produce, though the selection is not as large as Whole Foods's, for example, is in impeccable condition. (I also recall that when I had a guinea pig, they were always gracious and happy to offer us the "trimmings"). And the array of bulk grains and herbs-in-cannisters is excellent and very reasonably priced. These are things I can only find here or at PCC. The people who work here never have the harried look of employees of most supermarkets. They take the time to help you find things and answer your questions without being "under the thumb of the boss." We all lead busy lives. Going into most supermarkets is often a bewildering experience that just adds to our sense of "always being in a hurry." Only at Central Co-op and at the PCC's do I ever feel like I'm relaxed when I'm grocery shopping. read more