Vitamin Cottage gets one star for offering all organic produce. And bulk coffee and spices are a good deal. But the rest of the store is as expensive or more than Whole Foods. They offer the same discounts as all the other natural foods retailers in town because the vendors give them all the same promotional discount. Worst of all is the service and dirty store itself. Crowded, dirty, boxes all around, broken lighting in the cooler (for over a year), dingy lighting, and surly cashiers. That people shop here at all is surprising. Prices for natural and organic packaged good products at Whole Foods are competitive, meat and seafood quality is much better. Lucky's Market has better produce -- and local too! Costco has lower priced organic and natural meats. Vitamin Cottage is a dumpy old store with uncompetitive pricing and lousy service. read more

I love this store... This location in particular is definitely the vitamin/health food COTTAGE. As compared w/ their Lafayette location which we call the vitamin castle! Very small/ crowded but usually nice mellow people so we make it work. Not much of a prepared food/Deli section, but that's alright I don't usually eat that kind of stuff anyways. The #1,2,and 3 reasons I love this place is the prices. A fraction of what youd pay at other health food stores! By far the best prices in town. Give thanks for a place that allows me to eat organic at a reasonable price! 99 % of the time the produce is great.. Literally no difference, same farms/ distributors as whole foods, but some times 1/2 the $!! Bless the V.C! read more

My favorite grocery store in Boulder. I feel like they have some of the best prices on natural & organic foods. It's a smaller store and most of the staff is very friendly but can be hit or miss with the younger workers. The place reminds me of an organic grocery store I worked at in college and I like the atmosphere here. I come here for most of my dairy and specialty items. read more

I was so surprised by the last few reviews, and felt compelled to write another in defense of, what is my favorite, health food store in Boulder. I have been a customer of this store for years. I would never describe it as dirty - It seems to me that it is a small space that they do their best with...full, yes..dirty, no. I would rather shop at a store that is utilizing every inch of space they can, rather than a monster building like whole foods pearl with energy wasting, 20 foot ceilings. I have always found the produce to be just fine and I shop all over town, including the farmers market. Yes, it is limited, but overall great. apples....well I have been going out of my way to get their braeburn apples lately so good & crispy...you get mushy at any store. It depends on the season and type of apple.... Vitamin Cottage is no exception..at least one honeycrisp apple won't end up costing you $3 (like the mushy one I "treated" myself to at whole foods a few months back) I have found the staff at Vitamin Cottage to be incredibly helpful and nice, and willing to take their time with you to be sure you have a good experience and find everything you need. I do agree that the store attracts its fair share of crazy customers, (i have been behind a few in line myself) and it amazes me that the clerks and especially the management ,are able to stay as warm and friendly as they are, having to deal with that all day. My only wish is that the store had more space to offer more of the great products they carry. but then....it wouldn't be the same. It is a refreshing, more real, less pretentious environment, and I prefer that over shiny and new (not to mention aisles upon aisles of "healthy junk food") any day. read more

When you first walk in, this grocery seems a bit on the dingy side, but after acclimating to the modest surroundings, you will realize that there are quite a few good deals compared to the whole foods next door. The selection isn't as wide of course, but veggies, coconut bliss and some teas are significantly cheaper here. read more

I love this store and their prices on ALL organic produce is great. The biggest problem I have with other grocery stores is that it's a challenge just to get the right partners when I want organic. Natural groceries always has solely organic so it makes easy. read more

Great produce but heaven help you if you need customer service. With a few exceptions, the staff is really not interested in helping. I had a problem with an item that rang up incorrectly and it was like pulling teeth to get someone to care. I eventually just left the store. There are also lots of glitches with their online membership program. Lots of restrictions and just not worth the effort of signing up. read more

For me this is the best organic market in Boulder. The bulk items are not overpriced and the bulk spices are such a good deal. Produce is great. Staff is friendly and helpful. read more

I prefer shopping here to Whole Foods for bulk items and anything that isn't produce or prepared foods because the prices are astronomically better. However, I agree with the poster who said the produce leaves something to be desired- I never get my produce here. Their prices on supplements are way cheaper than Whole Foods and you don't have to deal with "organic rage" in the parking lot from overzealous Boulderites trying to get spots in the front row on their way to the health food store. The employees actually know a thing or two about health rather than being brainwashed by whole foods drones. read more

I was blown away by my last (and I really mean LAST) experience at Vitamin Cottage while on the search for Eco Nuts, a natural laundry soap alternative. As I stood in the detergent section, an employee approached me and asked if I needed help finding anything. I explained to him what I was looking for and he replied pleasantly "I've never heard of those before!" and then suggested that I Google "Eco Nuts Boulder" or call the company to see if there's a retailer in the area. This was a totally reasonable and helpful suggestion, and as he seemed like a pretty nice guy and seemed interested in what I was looking for, I replied conversationally "Ok, I just can't think of anywhere else in Boulder that would carry them. I've looked at Whole Foods and here and I don't even know where else would carry natural laundry soap alternatives..." to which he replied, (no exaggeration for the sake of a dramatic review) "Did you hear what I just said?" but not in the friendly, pleasant way that he was speaking to me earlier...in more of a "I'm actually super rude and the whole being nice thing was just my way of lulling you into a false belief that I'm capable of positive customer service." So I replied "I DID hear what you just said, I was just thinking out loud about who else would carry Eco Nuts," to which he replied "Because it sounded like you just blew right past my suggestion." I then thanked him for his suggestions and walked as quickly as I could away from him and out the front doors. This whole conversation from start to finish was under 5 minutes, which was apparently too long for him to keep up appearances. The good news is that my quest led me to Childish Things on Walnut and that place is awesome. I don't even have kids and that place is awesome. I had no idea what I was looking for BESIDES Eco Nuts (which they had in quantity) and their customer service was awesome. It's too bad that their employees don't work at Vitamin Cottage. read more

This is my favorite place to shop for groceries in Boulder. Good prices, friendly and helpful staff. The only downside is they are smaller so their selection is not as great as Whole Foods. So I shop here unless I need something specific that they don't carry. read more

Vitamin Cottage (yes, badly named) is my first choice in Boulder for the type of products it carries. Overall, it has a good selection, some of the best prices, & excellent customer service. The typical congestion a shopper will see there is witness to its popularity & unfortunately I believe this VC location is becoming a victim of its own success. The congestion is not only with shoppers crowding the aisles & check-outs, but with stacked products & employees stocking. I also feel that the produce section could use improvement -- in quantity & quality. I've long considered myself a loyal VC shopper, but with the congestion & produce weakness, I've started to divert more of my shopping to Sprouts & Sunflower markets recently, where I've found good prices on certain products. Since I live in South Boulder, convenience sometimes plays a part in this decision too. I would think that VC is aware of the congestion problem & understands the produce criticism as well. 'Don't know what their lease/ownership situation is, but based on their loyal shoppers & (guessing) consistent profit levels, I think many of us would encourage them to be actively looking for larger quarters. If a bigger space is part of their business plan, I think that letting patrons know that fact would find patrons feeling that VC was supporting them in having a better shopping experience. read more

I have to go here on a weekly basis to pick up orders for work. All of the staff is so super friendly and helpful! I truly enjoy going in each week! They have an extensive selection of vitamins and a very knowledgeable staff. read more

From the day my husband and I began shopping at Vitamin Cottage (at the suggestion of my nutritionist), we've never really enjoyed going to any other markets. Yes, it is very tiny, but that only allows for LOW prices & constant levels of freshness in the food. In fact, their prices are so low that I don't think there are really any other health food stores that can compete! They don't carry as much as other grocery stores (as far as produce), but all of their produce is always extremely fresh, ALL organic (no other stores can say this, as far as I know), and as local as possible. They have awesome sales on goods and food as well, and carry lots of bulk items (you have to buy it in the sizes they have in bags, but it's always at a good price). I can't say anything bad about this store! I will always shop there! I only hope we can find a store like this if we end up elsewhere in the future. read more

for the first few years this store was open i didn't even know they sold food. The most old school grocery store in town. cheaper then the rest and all produce is organic. They do not distribute plastic or paper, if you forgot to bring your bag, you take your food home in one of their precycled boxes. People complain about the parking and I think that is because they don't realize there is plenty of parking in the back of the store. read more

Great prices compared to wf and a smaller easier to navigate store that still seems to carry most of stuff I need. The staff is friendly and usually can answer any questions I have. read more

I'm a little of two minds here. I enjoy shopping at Natural Grocers in Boulder, having moved here from North Carolina. The atmosphere is laid back, the store is largely well-stocked with the sort of thing and some particular brands I like to buy, sometimes (muesli, e.g.) with far more variety than I've seen elsewhere in Boulder, including Whole Foods, Lucky's, and Sprouts, the staff quite friendly and very accommodating--but let me stop right there. I've shopped there four times, three recently for all my shopping needs to see if I can do all my shopping in one place, rather than mostly at King Soopers with a run to NG or Sprouts for dandelion greens for juicing. On each of the three recent occasions, there have been staff-related issues--twice inadequate staff, once meaning they were unable to unpack, check in , and stock a late shipment that included an item I wanted that they were out of on the floor, once meaning a staffer hesitated to look in the back for something (though he ultimately did, which I appreciated--he was clearly pushing to get things done), and once poor decision-making by staff before the July 4 holiday resulting in gaps and poor quality in the produce department after the holiday (perhaps my poor judgement for trying to shop then), their variety and quality of produce being one of the main draws for me, and which I had previously found very satisfactory. Their prices are a bit high on some things--MSRP, e.g., on lärabars which KS discounts by 30%--and they don't have budget-priced items such as Kroger's house soy milk at KS that undercuts the brands NG carries by a considerable margin, but then they carry size options, such as 64 oz. Westbrae soy milk that saves some money against the 32 oz. size, and they have terrific sales on items such as eggs, bacon (not for me, but maybe for you) and some produce, so some of the price differential evens out. I intend to try a couple more times, because I would like to be a regular there, and their location is very convenient for me--just seven blocks away, though Sprouts is actually about the same distance. Though I'm still figuring out the layout of the store, as with any grocery store one has just discovered, I find shopping there less hectic than at a larger place like KS, prefer to spend my money with a regional operation rather than an Ohio- or Texas-based colossus (nothing against Ohio or Texas, mind you), and feel intangibly more welcome and comfortable there than at Sprouts. The people they do have are lovely to work with--they just need more of them, and slightly more prudent management. I'm giving them an honest shot at keeping my business, but I'm a little on my guard at the same time. Try them if you haven't, but keep your eyes open before making up your mind. read more

This is my favorite grocery store in Boulder. Every piece of produce in here is organic, so you don't even have to think about it (vs. Whole Paycheck next door, with much greater selection but organic prices for conventional produce too). It's locally owned and small enough to find what you came for without a long search but not so tiny that you can't get what you need - even dish soap, aromatherapy oils, and dog food. They offer excellent coffee and a big chocolate section. :-) Staff are knowledgable and kind. Downsides are minimal: the aisles are very tight, and VC offers few choices in prepared foods like sandwiches if you need to eat now. read more

Used to be my favorite grocery store but there is a very rude guy, possibly a manager, working there now. A short older guy, dark mustache who I've witnessed being rude to his co-workers and a customer and now, which is why I'm finally speaking up, rude to me also. Clearly just an unhappy guy but I wish he'd stay hidden in the back! Most people who work there are very nice. He kind of taints the place. Most beautiful produce still. And all the produce people are so nice! read more

Absolutely terrible customer service. I bought an expensive joint vitamin from them & when I arrived home, I opened the bottle & saw that the seal under the cap was broken. I went back to simply replace the product & the manager refused to simply replace the product with the tampered/broken seal. I wasn't even asking for a refund. I used to shop here anytime that I could, but now it will be the web or Whole Foods. I've been supporting these guys for years & trying to buy local. I am in disbelief that they would be willing to completely lose me as a customer as opposed to simply replacing a single bottle of vitamins. read more

My only complaint against the store is the parking lot- it is super tight and extremely difficult to find parking at any time of day. It's not really something that can be controlled, though. There's not any room for expansion. They had everything I wanted, and the prices are a lot cheaper than similar stores, such as Alfalfa's or Whole Foods. I also like the fact that it doesn't feel as crowded or swamped as other stores. The staff were super friendly, and extended a greeting beyond a simple hello. read more

I love this little store! Feels super wholesome, the employees are friendly and helpful, and in my opinion they have consistently the best prices for organic food in Boulder. I have compared prices with other health food stores and Vitamin Cottage has far better prices for a lot of products. read more

I almost exclusively shop at Vitamin Cottage. You can't beat the prices on many of their products, and they seem to have a reliable quality-assurance system in place (eg. employees know the origins of the products there, so you can be pretty sure what you're getting is actually organic, or close to it). Their supplement staff is highly knowledgeable. Downsides: Their produce sometimes isn't ideal. Limited selection. I wouldn't call it a pleasant shopping experience, because the place is usually crowded or populated with staff stocking shelves during all hours of the day. The bottom-line reason I go is that you get organic staples for a good price. Also, note that if you have a wheelchair or need walking assistance, this isn't the most stress-free place to navigate. read more

Overall best prices on Healthy food in town.

I was in NG today looking into a melatonin supplement for my 4 year old. This has been recommended to me as my son has Sensory Integration issues and is likely on the autism spectrum. Melatonin has proven incredibly helpful for kids on the spectrum. However, when I asked the employee about this, she looked HORRIFIED. Told me that it was "scary" that someone had even recommended it to me, and that she would "NEVER" give melatonin to a child. She then proceeded to tell me how bad it was to give it to a child, especially a 4 year old, and grabbed something off the shelf she seemed to know nothing about, and told me "anything from Wish Garden is great." The experience for me (as a mother to an adopted child with sleep and anxiety issues) felt embarassing and demeaning. I will NOT return to this store. read more

I've been completely spoiled by their consistently fresh, great tasting produce. Staff is largely friendly and helpful.

I have mixed feelings about this place. I've found that they have the best prices for certain unusual things like cacao powder and raw pumpkin seeds. For that I'll rate them as great. However they have the slowest check-out lines anywhere! I am usually waiting about 5 minutes to purchase a couple items, and the cashiers are not always friendly. I am usually walking out that store hoping to find a better alternative. read more

I love Vitamin Cottage in Boulder! They are local and know their stuff. They care about being real and having quality products and service! The staff is willing and able to go the extra mile to ensure that the customer gets what they need, and I am proud of Boulder for having such a lovely natural food store! read more

very nice facility pleasant and attentive staff great selection of products at reasonable prices I enjoy coming here

this is the best grocery I've ever been in around the country! don't have to worry about which produce is organic; all of it is. unlike the famed WF. & prices way cheaper! everything here that I would buy at WF, but doesn't carry the junk or very unhealthy deli of wf. read more