The cost is higher than a typical grocery store, so I don't buy a lot of staples here but I splurge here on fruit, vegetables, nuts, and the salad/hot bar. The hot bar is a great place to stop by on a first date! You can grab a quick meal and eat on the patio! I also scored these amazing hand-knit cat ear warmers and gloves. I love the Community Board, see photo. And how involved this business is in the Madison community. I'm a traveling worker, but still bought a membership for the year. Love this place!! read more

Willy Street - East - Salad and cat ear warmers! - Grocery Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I really like this grocery store, as it features many local brands, fun products, and a large salad/hot bar. They also have prepared foods such as pizzas, quiches, sandwiches, salads, desserts, and more. I got the tofu cabbage salad and it was very fresh and tasty! The service here is great and it's a very pleasant shopping experience overall with decent prices. read more

Willy Street - East - Tofu cabbage with peanut sauce - Grocery Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I stopped by on a Saturday noon. I was really there to get the black forbidden rice. I am not aware of any other place in Madison which has it. They have an impressive array of dispensers, which has all kinds of things including beans, cereals and many kinds of rice like wild rice. While there I also took some mac and cheese from hot food section. It was ok. There was some interesting varieties of chocolate and other edibles there. read more

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Love stopping by a local co-op when I'm in a new town. Good prices and great selection on beverages and snacks. Perfect stop when you are visiting Madison! read more

This is the place to go if you NEED health food and trying to avoid WFM / Amazon. It's expensive. For the price, I'd expect a lot more. Don't expect everything to be healthy. Read the labels just like any conventional store. For example, that fancy Justin's peanut butter is full of conventional palm oil. Reading the storied monthly newsletter can be enlightening. It can also reveal a customer base that can really use some adulting. I stopped buying fish when their purveyor got kicked. The employees never seem too busy but they're extremely helpful. Baked goods are excellent but they don't take gluten free seriously. The store subsidizes lots of folks with your grocery bill. The chip fund supports a mix of great and dubious organizations. Lost my PC street cred by not gushing over this place. To win my love back, help protect us from dangerous ingredients with labels, use that $40m buying power, staffing strategy, eliminate Robin Hood subsidies to get more competitive prices, acquire local produce and educate us on seasonal imports, bring back that grassy drink. In Season produce should be amazing quality and abundant and affordable. read more

I love getting produce from here. Everything is good quality and fresh in this store. I also like how they offer local, I usually get some RP's pasta and Madison Sourdough bread when I shop here. Prices are high but worth it for the high quality. Note, the parking lot can be tight but I've always found a spot to park. read more

First time coming here, this co-op store caught me off guard after I was visiting the Mad Rabbit Cafe right down the street. This place had a fair amount of parking, I even saw benches to sit at and eat at if we got anything from the store. This store featured so many food items that I have never seen at a co-op store before. The selection here is huge for such a small store, it featured hot food, plenty of healthy and many vegan options as well for those that are health conscious. Even non-alcoholic options were present as well plenty of cheese since it is a Wisconsin staple. Checking out was also easy as well with not too many lines that you'll be waiting in. My biggest con about the store is the amount of homeless people outside begging me for money and they're on store property from the very moment I left the door and even trying to talk to gas as you're trying to sit down and eat your meal at the bench. It's something that shouldn't be on private property but overall I enjoy my visit at Willy's read more

I was appreciative that Brendon reads the reviews. Also, the willingness to make things right, i.e. provide a refund. Shows that they appreciate their customers and want to run their business well. read more

Absolutely wonderful service. Fantastic produce with a huge variety I absolutely love their customer service read more

The coffee is really good...... there is a lot of really obnoxious liberals in this place though, it's hard to deal with, But the look on their faces when I walk in with my Joe Biden sucks hoodie on is priceless. read more

Willy Street - East - Me standing in front of Willy St., Co Op wearing a Jose Biden sucks hoodie - Grocery Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Not great service. I started to bag my items myself to help things move along but when I had to pause to pay my bill, the cashier, instead of helping me finish bagging just stood there and stared at me. I don't need to be catered to but some customer service, especially when you are paying premium prices, would encourage me to shop there again. read more

Friendly service. Plenty of healthy veg premade salads. Great selection in general. Easy parking.

Lots of tasty food here. I discovered them at the 2022 Madison Vegan Fest. The vegan pumpkin cookies are amazing!

I'm really not all that impressed? I think this may be my first, or at most, second time at this "new" location (ha!). I had been to the old Willy Street location a handful of times. For being built from the ground up, I'm not sure why the decision was made to have such tight aisles. I also feel like the selection of various items wasn't all that great, especially for being a "bigger" store. I ended up only buying two items, when I was expecting more. Probably the most unpleasant thing is the customers. Obviously this is not the store's doing. It just attracts a certain somewhat-aggressive type, who seem to be having a perpetual bad day. Case in point, I was next in line, with 2 people behind me. A cashier frees up and Bam! Person behind me goes to the open register. That really doesn't happen in Madison, but was not at all surprising here. I'd be curious to see if the North location has the same angry/entitled customers. Honestly, I prefer the Jennifer St. market. Well, actually I'm a "sell out" who prefers Whole Foods. The only thing they ever did to me was cause Magic Mill to close (and the reason I refused to shop there for years). But that's a different part of town. read more

Today was my first time shopping here, and honestly, I was not impressed. The produce looked good, however almost everything was overpriced. One would expect good customer service with those prices, but the employees at the fish counter were too busy talking with one another to give me any service. I'm glad I was there around 4PM, or I would have had a much more difficult time finding any parking. I left the store with only a couple items. read more

After years of the 5 percent? up-charge, I am now a proud member. While I do not shop exclusively at the co-op for my groceries, I do enjoy the store in terms of its quality, mainly organic ingredients that I'm willing to pay a bit extra for. I am here often, which lately means twice a week. As part of an internship I have this semester with Slow Food UW, we drop $400+ at the co-op each week on ingredients needed for the weekly community meals we prepare. The co-op has always been accommodating to our need for mass amounts of certain items, using up all of their bulk whole wheat pastry flour, setting aside crates of cauliflower heads, hundreds of eggs and dozens of pounds of carrots (the ginormous bag of juicing carrots is our friend). All that said, I also visit the co-op for my own groceries. The BULK section is excellent. I lose myself every time and get a little carried away loading up on NessAlla KOMBUCHA and filling bags with everything from coconut palm sugar, bittersweet chocolate chips and cacao nibs to dried spices and freshly ground almond and peanut butters. It is foodie heaven in this aisle and I make a point to flock here almost weekly to try out some new type of grain or flour each time. The bakery is also smashing. It takes all the willpower in the world for me to not pick up the $1.99 bag of VEGAN COWBOY COOKIES sitting at the front of the checkout aisles. I cave on almost every visit to the co-op. Something else I appreciate about the co-op is the selection of SMOKED SALMON near the dairy and deli areas of the store. Tucked away into a back fridge, there is an assortment of various smoked salmon for the most reasonable price of all grocery shops I've found in Madison. Their meat and dairy prices are also overall reasonable, especially when compared to Whole Foods, for example. In terms of items and sections that I'll strategically avoid at the co-op, the prices of their fresh produce and their dried goods are unfortunately less than agreeable. I only head to the fresh fruit and vegetable section when I'm desperate and don't have time to make a trip to a different shop. In this case, Whole Foods is more ideal for produce and also dried goods that are still quality, but often cheaper. read more

The best "natural foods" store in Madison with a big selection. Best selection of locally grown fruits and vegetables, as well as a big emphasis on locally prepared products. I typically gravitate towards produce and dairy. The cheese selection has a strong emphasis on Wisconsin products and I stop by to get my local favorites--Caesar's string cheese and Batch Bakehouse demi baguettes. Is the co-op more expensive than other stores? Yes. However, the price of locally foods compared to other stores is just about the same, and the large bulk aisle is great for savings. Bulk items include products that are more rare, such as shampoo, lotion, and olive oil. Wellness Wednesday every month offers a discount on all personal care and supplements. Bring your own grocery bag for a discount. The parking complaints? Overrated. I have always been able to park in the parking lot. If the parking lot is full, street parking is free. There also appears to be an adequate amount of accessible parking. For most of us, walking a few extra feet is going to be fine! Not my regular store, but if I'm in the area, I'll shop here for my premium foodstuffs. read more

Willy Street - East - Grocery Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Just an update to say that the remodeled store is really coming together nicely. Spacious and it looks great. I had a minor panic attack when I thought they were no longer carrying the delicious sea salt caramels that were always available at the check out. I asked, and found that they've been moved to the bulk aisle. WHEW, Willy, don't scare me like that! ------ I had a weird interaction with an employee yesterday. I hung around the dairy aisle for a good while and waited for someone to appear who could answer a question. When no one did, I caught the eye of a meat counter employee who wasn't busy, hoping he could summon someone by paging. The dude literally shouted I'M WASHING MY HANDS RIGHT NOW. I'LL BE WITH YOU IN A MINUTE. k.... He came over, within two feet of me, and continued shouting CAN I HELP YOU? Yes, thanks, I was just wondering if you have... I'M SORRY BUT I CAN'T HEAR A WORD YOU'RE SAYING, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SPEAK UP. (The store was largely empty, and quiet.) Ok...um, I was wondering if you have any gallons of Organic Sassy Cow Whole Milk in back, the shelf space for it is empty... MA'AM, I DON'T WORK IN THE DAIRY DEPARTMENT, I WORK AT THE MEAT COUNTER. I WILL HAVE TO PAGE SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN DAIRY TO HELP YOU. (Hey, great idea!) He walked back to the meat counter, and gave the quietest, most whispery page ever. Dude should have just forgot the phone and kept shouting. So yeah. read more

Things I like about the co-op: -It's within walking distance - The produce and meats are generally high-quality - The employees are friendly - They carry some ingredients that might be hard to find elsewhere. Things I don't like about the co-op: - Organic replacements for the brand names I would usually buy are hit or miss. Some are totally fine. Others taste like farts. - The prices are insaaaaaaaaaane. I get that it's organic. I get that the food is of a slightly to markedly higher quality than I'll find at, say, Woodman's. I'd be willing to pay a markup-- even a substantial markup-- for the convenience of walking to the grocery store. You know what I'm not going to do? I'm not going to pay $9 for a pound of asparagus. When I see that price, I'm going to put all of my items back, walk home, get in the car, drive to Woodman's ,and pay $2.50 for a pound of asparagus that looks just as good. Which is exactly what I did tonight. To be honest, I'm not really sure why a grocery store should be run as some sort of democratic collective, but I'm fine with that if that's how they choose to do things. It's a pretty worthless institution, though, if I can't actually buy the simplest thing without paying almost four times as much as I would elsewhere. These people make Whole Foods look cheap. read more

This one is complicated for me y'all. I love willy street coop. The FOOD ALONE is 5 stars for me. They support local farms, donate to the community, and keep the place super clean throughout covid. I knocked my review back a star because of the consistently terrible service we get inside the store (willy street location). The staff always seem upset, and if you ask them for help - more times than not I end up feeling guilty for asking. This is NOT everyone in the store - it's just enough of them, enough of the time that when someone is friendly to us I find myself surprised. read more

Hands down the best grocery store in Madison. This grocery cooperative takes pride in knowing that they provide residents with the freshest produce, a multitude of locally sourced and organic products, and with a staff that believes in their company. The ownership fees are reasonable. Starting at $10/yr for individuals or $15/yr for a household, or even more affordable for those with lower incomes. Since the renovation, the east location now has a hot bar and a new and improved community center/ children's area (featuring a huge chalkboard). Once you step in, you won't be disappointed and you'll realize that you don't want to shop for your food anywhere else! read more

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By far my favorite grocery store in Madison. Sure, it can take a couple of minutes to find a parking spot and you'll pay more for some items (produce, I'm looking at you), but that's all part of the charm. There's a great selection of local produce and products, a fabulous bulk section, and a well stocked deli. While you'll pay a premium for some things, others are cheaper than can be found at stores like Hy-Vee. Check out the juice bar, olive bar, and brick oven pizzas too. Super friendly and knowledgeable staff round out this great store. read more

What a great shopping experience. Local. Organic. Friendly and helpful. I started by asking about the new apple varieties I hadn't heard of. The winecrisp apples were so dense it was impressive but the crisp and sweet flavor was amazing. We don't get these in my area. Just browsing aisles for snacks and such, knowing that I'm on a vacation sort of trip and have a flight home, I longed to have a way to cook some of the fresh produce and try some of the packaged seasoned ground meats. I actually mailed home some specialty brats and bulk sausage, and smoked salmon trim. More of these conscious little grocery store co-ops need to pop up everywhere. Thank you for being a part of my Wisconsin trip story, Willy Street Co-op. read more

say no to the willy st driveway! I thought we talked about this, guys? I know I agreed but now I'm mad! read more

A really nice community coop, full of great food, drinks and other products for keeping yourself healthy and looking good. You can get sandwiches, pizzas and juices made to order. There is also a handy delicatessen where you can find ready made dishes and delectables if you're on the run. I always appreciate a well stocked produce section full of good looking fruits and vegetables. The staff we talked to were friendly, smiling and helpful. Williamson Street is a very interesting and eclectic part of Madison. The whole street is worthy of visit with interesting shops and places to eat. The coop is the anchor of this cool neighborhood. Wonderful place for vegetarians and vegans. Go check it out read more

My first time at the Co-op, only AFTER I'd already moved away from Madison. For some reason, even with all the hype, I'd never really felt the desire to shop here. It is quite a bit smaller than I expected, but it is packed with all of the organic/local produce, dried goods, prepared foods, and pastries that you could ever really want. The products are in the same price range as Whole Foods and Trader Joe's, but the range of produce is neither as fresh nor as wide as Whole Foods'. On a cursory glance, I think you could probably get most of this stuff elsewhere for much cheaper. Yes, you'd probably have to be a little more careful about screening your produce. Yes, you'd probably have to look harder for the organic selection. But that is a lot of money saved. I like that they carry a lot of cutesy accessories made by local businesses/artists though, and I had a dandy time perusing their collection of mason jars and mason jar accessories! (I bought myself a 'Cuppow' lid that I'd been eyeing for thheee longest time but had always thought was too expensive..it was 50 or 60 cents cheaper here than online! SO STOKED!) Otherwise, I'm not a fan of the 5% non-member surcharge. I've been to plenty of other co-ops like this one that do just fine without having to charge their non-members. Meh. I'll just consider it my one-time fee for the 'Willy Street Co-op experience' cuz I probably won't be back. read more

What a super cool grocery! Bright clean space, super friendly staff, and a huge selection of organic, locally grown produce makes this a must go when in the neighborhood. Lots of natural products and a huge variety of vegetarian food. The prepared/to go food all looked amazing. I wish I had something similar at home!! read more

I love Willy's. They are willing to order any special items you may need. They have everything I need being newly vegan. After COVID, my body has allergic reactions to animal protein. Willys has been a godsend for me. read more

And this is why I shop at Trader Joe's. Stood in line for 10 minutes waiting for two cashiers to muster the energy to finish the people before me. While waiting there was hand sanitizer in arms reach. Went to use some and it was ripped away from me and I was scolded. It appears the Co op does not supply sanitizer during a pandamic. Store is sloppy with tight isles and is a little dark. The only thing more annoying are the pretentious members and staff. Off to Trader Joe's, they are fast, nice and let me use some of that sanatizer any time. read more

I am always so amazed by this place. They have such top quality produce and the bulk stuff that they have is impeccably priced. However, one of the best things that Willy Street has is Lily Kilfoy... The Kid Chef. This lady is amazing. She is engaging and knowledgeable and a true master of her art. The loving way that she inspires kids to cook and get down and messy with ingredients is wonderful. I highly recommend taking a class. She has inspired my kid who now wants to be a chef on a cruse ship. Awesome Job Lily and Willy. read more

I've been a member of Williamson Street Co-op for years now, and am catching up on yelping businesses that I owe a debt of gratitude to. I don't know how I'd live an enjoyable life were it not for the fine foods and super staff at the Co-op. They keep on hand a wonderful selection of organic produce, healthy canned goods, delicious dairy, fresh meats and poultry, locally made breads, and a fantastic selection of bulk goods. Then, too, they've kept room for the Seafood Center to sell good eats in the Co-op, which has been a real boon for us. it is always nice to be a member, and not just a customer. Good work, fellow members who work there! My parents actually had their wedding reception in the basement of what is now this Co-op, when it was the Eagle's Club, so long ago I can't remember it, because I wasn't born yet! read more

I love shopping here. I hit the juice bar regularly. Great value! Try the wheatgrass or ginger shot for an immune boost, berry charger smoothie or green zinger juice. read more

Yeah, I know. FRESH, FRESH, FRESH - LOCAL, LOCAL, LOCAL - WILLY, WILLY WILLY. Ma duke's lives up the street from the Co-Op; so after dropping off some stuff @ her place I remembered that I need french bread and a 1/2 gallon of 2% milk myself. So, I stroll in and walk around to see what there is to see as I haven't been here in a minute. I locate my desired goods plus a bottle of pear sparkling wine and I check out. She asks if I'm a member, I say, "no, actually just stopped in as my Mother lives in the area." She gives me the total, I give her the cash. I receive my change. ...and a look. I look at my 3 items and then I look at her. She looks at the 3 items and then she looks at me. "Oh do you need a bag?" "uuhh, YES. Please..." She 'rummages' behind her and pulls out a Trader Joe's bag. Looks good to me; bag it up. ------ Look Lady... I know I'm not a member. I didn't ride my bike here, I drove and gawd forbid I did NOT bring in my own cloth/reusable grocery sac... I made a pit stop into your place of business b/c it was close and my Mother comes here. Give a Dame a break, smile and who knows, you may get one of 'my kind' in there again. read more

I love reading the previous reviews. As a nearly nine-month resident of "the neighborhood," I have felt both disgust and deep love for the Co-op. On move-in day 2009 I was nine months pregnant, sweaty and needed some ready-to-eat food for myself, my husband and our moving-in-helpers. I did not have a canvas bag on me and I was not a member. I got a very strange look from the cashier and felt, overall, substantially unwelcome. Then, we got home and ate some very unsatisfactory prepared salads with half-raw rice in them. Huh. HOWEVER, I've since changed my tune about the co-op. No, I don't buy their expensive toilet paper or their prepared salads, or all of my groceries there. However, their organic produce section is really great. They always have sale items and to me it *is* worth it to spend a little more to eat organic, and, at times, locally, especially in the winter when there is no farmer's market. Also it is convenient. I like the excuse to take my baby for a short walk to pick up a few items a couple times a week. They also have a very good bulk dry goods and bulk tea section. Also, while one of their cashiers is a true douche-bag, the rest are really nice, regardless of whether or not you have your own bags. And about those bags, although it may seem obnoxious, the fear, or just discomfort of getting one of those looks motivates me to almost never forget my canvas bags anymore. And that's good for the environment, right? read more

After stocking up on local goods (Nessalla kombucha!!), I broke down and became a member. Yep. Did it. Wily Street Co-Op was a trip. I really enjoy stopping here any time I come to Madison. Now I can slap that eggplant sticker on my car with pride next to the one that reads, " My other car is a bicycle." Yep. read more

This is a great, full-size co-op with a wide variety of vegan staples. But when I evaluate a co-op, I look more at the fresh, daily vegan offerings they have and William Street didn't let me down. They have at least four or five different vegan baked goods daily, all of which attracted numerous people (at least when I was there). Some options included brownies, cakes and cookies. I had a "grasshopper brownie" ($1.45 for a decent-sized chunk) which was moist and rich, though with a slight metallic aftertaste from the mint frosting. I'd still get another, though, as I love the chocolate-mint combination. The juice bar has OatsCreme softserve, malts, shakes and smoothies, and offers a variety of unusual tea- and coffee-based drinks with the option for soy, rice, almond or hemp milk. I had a 12 oz. apple chai with almond milk ($3.50) that was flavorful, though it could have used more milk for some extra creaminess. The deli section has some simple tofu sandwich options, including cajun baked tofu, or fried tofu; there were also some cold curry-style tofu and tempeh dishes available by the pound. Lastly, I just liked the vibe of this place. It was full of hippies, ex-hippies, families, and smart consumers. If I lived in Madison, Williamson Street Co-op would definitely be a major part of my life. read more

Update: I changed my rating from three to four stars, because in the time since I wrote this review, a couple of the issues I mentioned have been improved. The bakery section is now more consistently stocked, and the deli selection is also more predictable. The front-end clerks who used to yell back and forth to each other while ignoring customers seem to have moved on, making way for people who concentrate on their job and the customer in front of them. * * * * * * * * * I shop here all the time, and it's mostly good. They try so hard, they're so community-minded, and there's a lot of good food here. The place is SO politically correct it makes practically everyone feel guilty, if not looked down upon. For a cheap thrill, I like to walk in and buy a pound of white sugar. Anyway, three favorite things: 1. Produce: very good quality and pretty good selection. No strawberries that taste like styrofoam, ever. 2. Sales: Overall this is a pricey store, but when things go on sale you can get some very good deals. 3. Bulk goods: There are some good deals here, too, though they keep reducing the selection of certain items to make room for yet another flavor of granola or candy. Three least favorite things: 1. Unpredictability: Maybe there's some way to plan your life around their deli and bakery schedules in order to get the stuff you want, but I haven't found it. Why are there near-empty bakery racks at nine in the morning? 2. Rude staff: Not all of them, but enough. And boy, does it irk me to have front end clerks ignore me while yakking over my head about their weekend plans. Sometimes I get a straight answer to questions, but other times I get the run-around. 3. The prices: Very few people could afford to do all their shopping at a place like this, and I try to train myself to only buy certain things. Still, the final total can come as a shock. read more

In another intriguing turn of events for a Madison business, Willy St Co-operative is now supplemented by its sister store, the rebellious Middleton location, which hardly seems to fit in in the strip mall wasteland that is the Far West side. Having said that, I am vegetarian, and try to eat organic. You would think I am a huge fan of the Co-op. In all honesty, I'm just not sold. Sure, the Co-op is close to home for us near East-siders. It's cute. It has impeccable foodstuffs. There are even folks playing music on the "street" outside. The atmosphere around the original location serves it well... But, yes, it ultimately ends up feeling contrived, corporate and cold. Where the Co-op is struggling, I believe, is with the price, and the perceived value. After several years of digging deeper, reading reviews, and following this Co-operative corporation, I believe that there is a deeper public relations issue going on here. It seems most people believe the Co-op is, in fact, price-gouging. Sure, the products are generally high quality. But does that mean they should be marked up as high as they are? I know I will get flack for this review. I can hear the angry mob of protesters at my door now... How can someone question "The" Co-op? Well, until Willy Street Co-op administrators can serve up some juicy details on the outrageous price, I will enjoy other nearby businesses that are not local-corporate, money-obsessive chains. read more

Best grocery store ever. How I miss the Willy St. Coop! They stay true to their goals of obtaining and selling fresh, local, organic produce while maintaining their commitment to the environment.. They are also an invaluable resource for items pertaining to holistic health. Willy St. carries a broad assortment of delicious grocery items, and for an organic place, they keep their prices as low as they can. Best of all, due to the fact that it is a cooperative, based on peoples requests, they truly take peoples suggestions to mind when they are deciding which products to carry and what direction to lead the store in. Not to knock Whole Foods since in Chicago thats the best I can get, but the Willy St. Coop puts it to shame.. Making a pilgrimage there today is on my list of things to do. read more

My transformation as a Near East-sider is complete: Kate and I purchased a membership at the Co-Op. I'd held out for quite awhile preferring the bucolic Woodmans to this Madison staple. However, Kate's desire for fresh produce and my in-born laziness made this a no-brainer. Being the only grocery store anywhere near downtown (Capitol Center does not count), it's a quick four block walk from my house. The best produce I've ever seen and a terrific selection of everything else. And if Hyper-Organic Flax Oil Granola isn't your thing, they also carry Cheerios. One might think that the staff at such an eco-friendly liberal bastion would scoff at anyone not clearing the high bar of leftist politics, but my experiences have always been positive. Lose a star for a ridiculous parking lot. But I guess that's to be expected. read more