If a recipe has items that are not located at your local grocery store; go to Ellwood Thompson. I tried a vegan recipe called No-piggy sausage. Could not find half of the ingredients at a number of grocery stores. Then, I tried Ellwood Thompson's which I knew I should have gone to first. They had everything on my list. Thanks! read more

Just updating my review to say their to-go salads are quite yummy. I needed a quick dinner option and to grab some wine before heading over to a friend's for a board game night. I really loved the chicken salad and enjoyed the Israeli cous cous salad. They also have a lot of seating near the front if you want to eat one of their premade meals there. This is an upscale grocery store, so do know that the prices are quite high. However, you are getting quality and a lot of local products which is really nice. I normally come for their natural and organic wines. They have a nice under $15 section. Their Ellwood Thompson labels by the wines are also super helpful for me. I tried an orange wine I normally wouldn't have because one of their notes. This is my go to quick stop for wines. read more

Ellwood Thompson's - Orange wines, chicken salad, Israeli couscous salad - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

See all

We stop by here to get something yummy for heading to a park. Like Maymont or Forest Hill. They are a place that you can buy a lot of organic foods, herbs, and essential oils and such. They also have an amazing food counter with healthy options and a place to sit and enjoy your meal. They have a private meeting room for classes and such they also have a wonderful healthy smoothie section. read more

I haven't been here in a few months, and some subtle changes have been made, but it's still a good vibe in here. Elwood definitely needs a second location, preferably in Chesterfield. read more

I visited this store for the last time today. I go in every week to buy three items. Every time I go, I am followed around the store and watched by employees. I am tired of the constant racism and racial profiling. Today I asked to speak with a manager. Mike came out and doubted everything I told him. No apology. No understanding. In fact, he constantly interrupted me. When I told him he was interrupting he said, "I just let you speak." A very nasty way to be with a customer. He actually said "why should I believe you over them," and "this is not going to go how you want it to go." What I wanted and what I should have gotten as a customer was an apology and at least a commitment from the store to take my concerns seriously and do better. He assumed I misunderstood and that the responsibility to prove racism occurred fell on my shoulders. He was defensive, rude, and frankly perpetuated the racism I tried to make him see. His only solution was for him to watch the videos to see if they indeed followed me so he could consider "both sides." Everything was about justifying their movements instead of acknowledging what I said. I went to management as a courtesy, but he just ended up making it worse. Goes to show, you can put a mural of a Black woman on the side of your business, you can even hire Black workers, but if you don't do the work of educating your management on customer service and racial profiling, you will lose customers and support. read more

I love shopping at Ellwood Thompson's for groceries. The meat and produce sections are especially great because they offer a ton of local options that are always fresh and great quality. I'm also a big fan of the prepared foods section. Anytime I want a quick, high protein snack I pick up a container of their Thai chicken salad. It's really nice to add to other dishes or just eat by itself. They also have a good selection of delicious kombuchas that are local to the RVA area. I'd definitely recommend coming here to anyone that needs to do groceries and values quality while supporting local businesses and farmers. read more

Ellwood Thompson's is one of my favorite places to go for good premium food. They have lots of vegan options and exotic meats like Elk and Emu!! Their produce section is also well stocked with vegetables and fruits that you don't commonly find at other grocery stores. All of these premium health concise products come at a premium price so keep that in mind when prepping for your visit. This location has a large private parking lot which is nice. Check them out. read more

This was my first visit to Ellwood Thompson's. There is ample parking outside the store. The front entrance is inviting, providing that local market feel. Once inside, I saw the nice selection of produce, all fresh and well arranged. The store has organic and natural foods and health and wellness items. There is a nice juice/smoothie bar and freshly made hot and cold foods. The prices are a bit steep but I found my favorite Owl Spoon water keifer, some great kombucha, mangos and berries, and some appealing sushi offerings. I was not impressed with the staff. There were employees all over the floor, stocking or straightening and facing the shelves. I encountered several of them, none of whom acknowledged me, said hello, or asked if they could help me. That is a real minus in my book. There is meat and seafood available, but all of the seafood is frozen - no fresh seafood section. I may come back but not on a regular basis as it doesn't suit my budget and has limited grocery items that I need to prepare my own meals. The lack of a friendly, customer service is also a negative. I think the market has most appeal for shoppers that want their food ready to go. read more

See all

This used to be a place I shopped weekly, sometimes more than once a week to grab something off the hot bar or salad bar. Admittedly, I haven't been here since early 2020, pre-pandemic. I think tonight was my first time back since then. Not living in the city and then simply just getting out of the habit of driving 25 mins to come here. However, I was really disappointed to see that the MTO, hot bar and salad bar were completely gone. No one spoke or seemed happy to be there until checkout where both at checkout were friendly. ET's has never been a bargain place but 12.99 for a pint of organic, not local, not biodynamic blueberries? That's outrageous. So I led with the disappointments but here's their saving grace-if you're vegan-you're going to find pretty much anything you'd want here. If you're looking for something a little unique, this is your place. Bulk items also set them apart from others. They also carry more local items than anywhere else so they aid in supporting our community and the small businesses that provide product to them. Their vegan gf ginger cookie is still the bees knees. I didn't see the vegan carrot cake tonight and if that's gone too-it's a sad day. Shop the sales, bulk items, and local goods. read more

Three stars for all the good options crammed into a small space! The staff however are collectively the most inconvenienced clerks and stockers I've ever come across. A couple self serve cash registers and maybe steal retirees from Lowes that actually appreciate work in this climate and it's a win! read more

Smoothies are great. Employees in general are smug assholes. I've been in there multiple times in the last 2 months. You just get a bunch of eye rolls when you ask them anything. As someone who grew up in Richmond and just moved back, it's disappointing. read more

Heaven in a grocery store. Absolutely wonderful diverse and healthy food selection that feels so grass roots and cozy.

So I know I've been slacking on my reviews and I promise to do better. I look to Yelp and depend on it living in a new city, the least I can do is contribute back. So I love this place. I've been vegan almost a year and thus I've had time to test out which vegan products I like. (All vegan is NOT created equal) I love this place primarily because it sells two Richmond based vegan cheeses I LOVE! (Unmoo and Rooted Delights) They have a nice hot bar (think Publix meets Whole Foods) and a great selection of odd healthy organic good for you brands you don't find just anywhere. Now, I wouldn't suggest full grocery shopping here cause it's pricey. (Whole Foods is cheap in comparison) You come here for specific items or additional items, not all items. They have live music on Fridays. Great sandwich and juice bar as well. read more

See all

I really have to chuckle at some Yelp reviewers. Like the person who complains the salad bar is all vegan. Were you looking for the meataterian salad bar? I moved to RVa in July and quite a few people have recommended this place. Someone said, think of it as a cross between Whole Foods & Trader Joes and after my first visit today, I would agree. I like the concept, the choice for various earth friendly products as well as the prepared food options. Since this was my first time, I will say the standout's for me were the coffee bar, where you can get a 16 ounce coffee for $1.11 cents with your own cup as they price it as a refill...take that Starstrucks! The turkey meat loaf is most excellent as well as their choice of hot and fresh breakfast burritos. The Beet Cafe looks very interesting with their calendar of live music events posted for an entire month. A bit disappointed at their lack of choices for 'local wines'. The way the display rack is arranged, you have to bend 'way over' to see what is on the lower racks. Maybe it was because I went @ 7am on a Sunday morning but everyone was super friendly. Especially Charlotte in the prepared foods department that explained the options and sold me on the turkey meat loaf. read more

the young woman at the customer service desk was rude and minimized my lack of knowledge of a specific item sold here. I asked another customer standing near me was I reading her wrongly; the other lady confirmed my take on her inability to provide friendly customer service. Both of us decided not to pursue the " Rewards program" application due to her rudeness. shame I've come here for 20 years when Elwood's was small and personal service was the norm. read more

The gem of RVA - worth the drive every time! While not exclusively a vegan establishment, this cute local health food store boasts a great selection of eco friendly cleaning & kitchen supplies as well as ALL the groceries a vegan could want. It's easy to get the cheese and other dairy substitutes here as well as plant based "meats". Really good, beautiful fresh fruits and veggies, I believe all the produce is organic (?), excellent bulk section, wines, cosmetics & hygiene products, juice & coffee bar, dessert counter, à la cart and sushi bar and premade lunch items readily available on the colds shelf, everything is here for a treat, or a quick healthy meal on the go. And many delightfully tempting artsy totes for sale at checkout, too. Been a customer for many years now. In addition to everything I've listed, this has always been a place where it's easy to bring children and everyone is friendly about it and really sweet to my kids. Can't get over the reliably wonderful staff, like no other place I shop. GO THERE!! read more

See all

Ellwood Thompson's rocks! Whenever I'm looking for a specialty health item, I can usually find it here. They have a remarkable selection of essential oils, vitamins and supplements. The organic and natural foods bountiful, you will not be disappointed! The produce is beautifully displayed, fresh and delish! I also come here yearly for my organic herbs. They are well cared for and hearty. Did I mention the greeting card rack? Check it out, some unusual cards in there! I also love the outdoor seating and relaxed chill vibe of this store. Some of the cashiers can be a little more friendly though... a pleasant salutation can go a long way! read more

Ellwood Thompson's - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Listen, things happen. We're human. People have a bad day, and any number of things can go sideways as a business. However, when "sideways" is on repeat it's a pattern. And by design or willful ignorance. Ellwood Thompson has been in a nosedive for at least 3 years in my experience. My last visit, may just be my last visit. There is little at Ellwood that cannot be had elsewhere in town. I would make the effort because of the bagels, and made-to-order food/drinks. When I'd go for these things, I'd pick up the rest of my groceries despite paying a premium to do so. Okay, so the bagels, they've changed to a local producer. Goodbye NY-style bagels, and hello "rolls with holes" sprinkled with everything seasoning. I can move on from this because Nate's is just a stone's throw down the road. Fine. But! With this change comes unwelcoming behavior from everyone other than at checkout. Unkind Customer Service has been the case since go, even at the Customer Service Desk, but you get a few curmudgeons everywhere. Again, humans! Today, the ratio is untenable. most of those working at this self-purported small, local, community grocery (a Co-op!) could care less about the customers. They have a job to do. Stocking shelves, prepping foods, even having small team meetings. The vibe is that I am there interrupting their agenda. When there is eye contact, no acknowledgment. If I need to ask a question, whoa. That really throws them off, knocks them out of their tunnel vision and I am for sure let known of the disruption. To be fair, everyone at checkout is always kind, welcoming, generous, and even personable. My last visit also had me navigating between a large dolly of items to be stocked, the 2 stokers, and another shopper vying for limited aisle space. I know it's now common practice to stock shelves during open hours, it is just extra ridiculous at Ellwood since the size of the shop, and the self-purported value of being community-serving. Ellwood should value customer service, but they don't. I point my experience to Management as they set the tone. An uncaring management style has created an unpleasant shopping experience. It's not customer-focused, or even employee-focused because if Management cared about their employees they'd care to support their team members with common, baseline codes of conduct, and make sure they are upholding them. That would trickle down to the customers, and a true community market Ellwood Thompson's would be. Do better Ellwood. read more

It's been years since I have been to Ellwood's. Like maybe 9 years. I've always enjoyed the store and the products that they have. They have a lot of organic and all natural products which I try to get for certain types. The produce section is actually kind of small but the all natural health care and beauty is quite large along with the other grocery section. The cheese selection is plentiful along with the frozen foods. This market is pricey but considering what you're getting it's completely understandable. During my visit there the staff was beyond helpful especially when trying to find ice. The bakery section has a lot to offer as well. read more

I'd heard a lot about Ellwood Thompson's from a friend who lives in Richmond and was excited to check it out. It has a great selection of local produce, a nice bulk section, a lovely wine and beer selection, wonderful cheese options, great to-go options and is overall a pleasant place to shop. I live in the Bay area and love Good Earth and was curious to see how it compared. It's actually more expensive than Whole Foods and Good Earth. I was disappointed to discover the blackberries I bought were completely molded. I was shopping on a Sunday and it was the last half pint, so I should have checked, but was disappointing at close to $5. If I lived in Richmond I'd shop there for the fish and poultry, which looked amazing, to-go section (killer tuna and chicken salad), wine and cheese. read more

I love going down there to Ellwood and Thompson. I love the atmosphere. All of the cashiers are so friendly. I love the food down there hot food, cold food. The chicken is so good I love the curry salad wrap with the apples, raisins, celery I don't really like the peanuts in it but that's OK still the best and they're cake desserts made without flour is very nice. I also like their chocolate cake, which is no other chocolate cake in the world like it because it is like a fudge chocolate cake so good. And they're onions is the size of a small basketball everything...... little expensive but well worth it. read more

Passed this so many times, but this was my first time in, to eat no less. This place is great! On the right is a supermarket with (all?) local products. On the left is a coffee/smoothie/juice bar and a bar for breakfast/sandwiches/etc. I think there were more in the back but didn't get to explore I meet someone for breakfast. There's some seating on the side if you want to meet or just get some work done. It seemed a little busy during the morning. I got a chai latte and a bacon egg and cheese biscuit. The biscuit was great! All fresh made and a good portion size. read more

An extremely extraordinary organic grocery store we visit every time we are in Richmond Virginia on vacation. The beer section features many local beers nearby in single cans or bottles. It has better beer than some bottle shops I visited. Maple pancake ginger bread pancakes perhaps was my favorite purchase out of the hundred dollars I spent mainly on beer. I did however find a delicious package of you guessed maple blueberry sausages to take on our trip back home. Superb ! Tasty ! read more

See all

The food and smoothie was amazing. I like the flexibility this place gives my partner to work around her dietary restrictions. When you go to the cafe there is a menu box with a dry erase markers. You take a menu and write onto it before ordering. What I loved was that since the menus are laminated they can be reused, meaning less waste. On the subject of less waste, this place gives the option to buy reusable straws and the garbage cans are clearly marked (see the photos). I had what seemed like 100 questions but Tina was super helpful! We will be coming back here for sure. read more

Ellwood Thompson's - Turkey, cheese, tomato, and caramelized onions on a multigrain roll with a strawberry banana smoothie. - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

See all

We stopped by on our way through town. What a gem! We came by to pick up some stone milled flour for bread making. They had several good options to choose from. We picked up a few other things while we were here. I like that they are small enough to offer things outside the big-box health food stores. I can't speak about other aspects of one's shopping experience. For example, we never needed help from employees. But in finding unique items, tops. read more

Ellwood Thompson's - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Sat outside here for breakfast and to get some work done. Pros- staff is very kind, the seating is so clean, distanced, and comfortable. We had a great time sitting around and getting work done. Had a great cup of coffee from the juice bar as well. Cons- Got breakfast from the hot bar and it was.... bland. Got eggs, bacon, sausage and some house potatoes and it was average and overpriced. For $7, I was pretty annoyed! If you are looking for specialty packaged goods/organic products/local products, not a bad option. Just not a fan of the hotbar, at all. read more

This store is everything for someone like myself who looks for alternative foods that are either vegan or vegetarian. I went looking for vegan cupcakes and they had a huge selection of them. They were good, but just have a more "heavy" and dry feel to the cake. I prefer a more light and moist cake. The better find here was one of my faves that I miss since I gave up meat... they had vegan chicken salad sliders !!! When I tell you this was so delicious.. I mean.. I wish the store were just closer to my house. I will definitely be back in a few days to see what other goodies they have to support my pescatarian life. read more

See all

The workers here were so rude to us for asking Simple questions. And the selection was somewhat lacking for our taste. I suppose some people like this shop but us? We won't be back. read more

R is for Richmond! That's right, the letter R is the first place not in the DC-Baltimore-Annapolis Metro area! I went down to Richmond for a day trip to the Watermelon Festival in a cool, eclectic neighborhood called Carytown. On Sunday, August 14, 2016, it was a second date with the woman I mentioned in 'I is for Idylwood' Taco Bamba review. I picked up her up from her apartment in Fredericksburg, and we drove down here. We checked out the festival. Richmond's high temperature was 99 F (8/14/16 was the hottest day that summer), but with an oppressive 71 F dew point, the heat index felt as high as 107 F. Suffice it to say, we were drenched in copious amounts sweat walking at the outdoor fair in Carytown. We arrive at Ellwood Thompson's, a local grocery store. 5-stars for the cold a/c! It was a kind of cool, hip grocery store. Seemed kind of overpriced; not as overpriced as Whole Foods, but still high. We got sushi for lunch, which was surprisingly good for grocery store sushi, and we ate in the little dining area they had. The cashier was friendly too. Anyway, after Ellwood the woman & I drove around, but she didn't want to do anything. I would've gone to the Edgar Allan Poe house, some other museum, or ANYTHING else cool that Richmond has to offer. That was a disappointment to me. Suffice it to say, we didn't go on any more dates. read more

Love this local RVA grocery store. I meet all of my clients here to begin our day and the coffee, smoothies and breakfast shop is awesome. Everything here is local, mostly organic and it's a vegan lovers paradise. They have a hot food bar in the back and tons of seating in the front. They also have local beers on tap in the room to the left when you walk in behind the smoothie makers. They usually have a signature coffee that's really good and I always go for that one. Definitely give this place a try, you don't have to be vegetarian or vegan, it's just a cool local spot with tons of great food. Everyone that works here is so friendly and really nice. It almost threw me off this morning when the cashier asked what I had planned for the day! Buy local and support local RVA shops like this one! read more

Ellwood Thompson's - Get glowing smoothie - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I've gone here a couple of times since being back in town, and I really like this store. There is something for everyone and there seem to be a lot of vegan and vegetarian options if that is your jam. I've tried two of their smoothies, blue dream and the hulk maybe? Both were pretty good but pretty pricey at around $10. Service was pretty friendly at the register and juice counter. I'll be back when I have more time to check out some of the other options and their jar recycling program. read more

While I would LOVE to give ET 5 stars, I cannot.. Had a smoothie made and they do NOT wash the berries or veggies...ewww...people who pick these in the fields have no where to go to the bathroom was told because everything is organic, it's okay #ecoli Three times I have seen flies crawling on the buffet And yet people turn a blind eye. Plus you pay DOUBLE the prices of their organic produce from across the street. I only write this because I want them to be better and stop monopolizing off of people who have money and think they are making healthy choices #ETyoucandobetter read more

Talk about being treated like crap when all I wanted to was work, Tammy idk if she's still there but apparently a few of my family members havent gone back to Elwood's because of how rude she is. Definitely don't apply to the stocking department because unfortunately Tammy is power hungry and just not a thoughtful person of her employees. Maybe it was just me idk but I never did anything in order for her to blow up on me in front of other girls to make me look bad. read more

(4) ~ very good local & organic health food market. It's bigger than I thought, and has a good selection of wine & beer. It is expensive though...HIGHLIGHT: Rostov's Whole Bean Coffee = (4.25) Very good Honduran FTO:) read more

Love this place so much. If you're looking for any type of natural or bulk product, Ellwood will have it. Yes, prices are high but you're supporting local and you're getting a product that has few or no unnatural elements so it's well worth it. What's even better is that they have self serve food, station where you can order food, a juice bar, and a seating area. Also - there's special events going on all the time. These are posted on a chalkboard calendar right near the entrance. I love discovering new products here and also running into some like minded people. Definitely worth checking out! read more

My goodness, who could find fault with this place? If you are looking for everyday, discounted groceries try Walmart. There are always finds to be had on the shelves and the best fresh food. I love sitting at a table and enjoying healthy and tasty food. Staff could not be nicer. This is a Richmond institution and an enormous asset to our community. read more

The best way to describe Ellwood Thompson's is where the counterculture meets Richmond. On any given day you will find young ones, bodies filled adorned with tattoos, piercings, etc, as well as grey hairs, clothed in what appears to be their Sunday best and it all works. Having been clued into this incredible establishment a short time ago, I have made the pilgrimage at least twice a week for a number of reasons. First, they have a nice selection of regionally grown produce that is superior in taste to any similar product imported from elsewhere. Secondly, there is no local store that I know of that has a larger selection of organic produce and products. Thirdly, they have wonderful gluten free products. Fourthly, I just love their Curry chicken salad, samosas. And finally, they have great bakery products, including my favourite Vegan Carrot Cake, which is better than most non-vegan carrot cakes I've tasted elsewhere. Of course, there are many other reasons to enjoy this store, including their health and personal care section, but it is too much to consider here. Of course, this all comes at a cost, which is in the form of your bill at checkout. Yes, you might find some of the products cheaper elsewhere, but you won't find all the products they offer anywhere else I've visited during my time in Richmond. So buckle up your seat belt, loosen up the wallet and partake in this great supermarket! read more

One of the coolest places in Carytown!! The selections of different foods is great, the food bar is always yummy and of course who can resist the dessert area?! Love this place read more

EVERYTHING on this list is vegan. The cake was not too sweet and was perfect, the 'meat' loaf was dense and had ketchup in the middle, the spinach pie was decent, cinnamon bun was the perfect size and taste, and soy nuggets were a hit. read more

See all

E.T., you're my main food source in Richmond. I really like your bulk goods, your wine, your vegan sausages, your swanky cheeses, et cetera. I love that you carry produce from local farms at good prices. I've even enjoyed the hot bar numerous times despite somehow always paying nine bucks for a plate or box of dollops of clammy vegetarian slop. (Tasty nonetheless.) Your checkout staffers are friendly and funny. I come here all the time. But seriously. WHAT IS WITH THE RESTOCKING PLAN. Your aisles and end caps are a constant obstacle course of pallets of products, carts of boxes and jars, piles of food to shelve, all of it untended and abandoned as haphazardly as a hurricane evacuation. On rare occasions one can spot an employee actually putting these things on the shelves. 90 percent of the time they are just lying there. Do you not have a back room? Do trucks simply empty their loads directly into the aisles? Do you have a covenant that prohibits employees from doing anything inventory-related before or after opening hours? Or are people just being Raptured on the job? At best it is a nuisance. At worst it is a genuine accessibility issue. How can anyone in a wheelchair navigate this store? Please, just put your sh*t away. read more

Ellwood Thompson's - This is typical. Had to turn the cart right around. - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - Richmond, Virginia