Chicago's new Dill Pickle Food Co-op has opened its doors in time for residents of the Logan Square neighborhood to stock up on plenty of local and organic food for the holidays. It's a good thing too, because despite a wonderful (but seasonal) farmers' market, grocery options in the neighborhood are somewhat limited.
The co-op has been open for a little over a week, and things seemed to be running pretty smoothly when we stopped by over the weekend. Though its footprint is much smaller, the storefront's setup is similar to a larger grocery store. When you walk in, you're in the bakery and produce section, which leads you to the refrigerated cases filled with local cheese and meats, and some high-quality vegetarian protein items.
The shelves in the middle of the store are stocked with canned, bottled and dry food items, most of it organic, as well as some eco-friendly cleaning supplies and high-grade pet food. There's also an extensive bulk section with a variety of grains, nuts, granolas and quite a few spices.
You don't have to be a member to shop at the co-op, but members will receive a discount of some sort – the details are still being worked out.
Top Row
1. The first aisle stocks bakery, produce, cheese and meat items as well as a variety of pantry essentials.
2. It's December in Chicago, but local produce is still to be found. These Sunchokes from Green Acres would make a great puree and go well with fish.
3. These Golden Ball turnips from Genesis Growers could be used for a soup or a risotto.
4. Field Roast Grain Meat Co. sausages have become an exception to our anti-fake-meat stance lately, so we were happy to see them in the refrigerated case.
5. You can also find plenty of high-quality meat products of the non-vegetarian variety.
Middle Row
6. The co-op stocks dairy products from producers in surrounding states such as Castle Rock Organic Farms in Wisconsin and Traders Point Creamery in Indiana.
7. There is also a variety of hard and soft cheeses.
8. The co-op has highlighted value items around the store with a Basic Needs Basket label.
9. A nice selection of bulk spices.
10. Where possible, the co-op has stocked local canned items like these Sun Gold preserves from Tomato Mountain in Wisconsin.
Bottom Row
11. A long row of bulk bins.
12. Lots of eco-friendly cleaning products.
13. Organic mustard in several flavors.
14. Sign up to rent an organic apple tree, or just sample some cider.
15. The checkout counter.
Related: Harvest Spotlight: Chicago Honey Co-op
(Images: Joanna Miller)
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i've been waiting for DP to open for a few weeks, hooray! unfortunately i dont live close enough to it to shop there consistently, but i will definitely take field trips there as often as i can. welcome, dill pickle!
This place looks awesome! Love the name, though it makes me miss the long departed Dellwood Pickle in Andersonville.
So glad to see pictures, as it would be a bus ride for me, so it's nice to know what they have first. Also, traderspoint makes cottage cheese?!? I must try that.
This is a lot closer to my house than I thought. I'm going to have to check it out soon!
Membership is 250$ for a share, but you can pay in $50 installments and there are opportunities to volunteer, either at the store or on a committee. It's a great way to be a part of a neat thing!
I am so excited to have a co-op in Chicago! I moved here three years ago from Albany, NY and have missed my old co-op every time I'm looking for spices, fresh produce and friendly faces. I'm bummed I missed the grand opening, but will be visiting (and joining) very soon!
Eh... yeah, I'm not super impressed. Fair prices on the bulk dry goods, but I'm betting those $5.56 eggs aren't as good as the $5 pasture raised ones I get from a local farm.
We'll see how they do. I'm glad they're in the neighborhood, but dear lord, some of the prices were pretty astronomical ($4 for a baguette?!). And the carrots they did have in stock were limp, and they were out of greens.
@autumleaves:
TIF money was not used "to build" the co-op. The building's owners may have received some TIF funds (via SBIF) to renovate the building, but the co-op itself was financed exclusively by memberships, member loans & donations -- i.e., by the community.
The real scandal regarding TIF money is how it's used as Daley's slush fund to subsidize corporate headquarters in the Loop and other such projects in areas where it's not needed. If you know the area where the co-op is located, it's not exactly a booming retail district. The TIF concept isn't corrupt per se - the problem is how it's (mis)used and how its (mis)use is hidden.
Can't wait to check it out!
Curious--the last coop I've been to was in FL. The price on the item tag was always higher than what "members" would pay. Does it work the same way here?
@art:
No. My understanding is that some individual items may occasionally be made available at special members-only prices, but there is no storewide member discount. However, the Pickle has a "Hands-On Owner" program in which members can volunteer to help out at the store and be rewarded with a limited discount (e.g., 12% on a purchase up to $100).
the real scandal is that the median income in logan square is far below the national average, yet the community grocery store charges astronomical prices for basic foods. how on earth is that benefitting the neighborhood, or people who need access to affordable nutrition the most?
Hi - I'm one of the board members of the Dill Pickle and wanted to address some of the comments about the store that have been posted above.
The idea that the co-op is funded by TIF money is not accurate. The Dill Pickle is 100% member financed - every dollar we spent to open the store came from member equity, member loans, or fundraising. This is why it took us almost five years to open this store.
We're finding the prices of some high quality organic, locally/sustainably produced, and/or fair trade products to be higher than we would like, too. We're working on this in a couple of ways: our sales levels so far are such that we are going to have to order more frequently than we anticipated, which will give us leverage in negotiating steeper discounts with our suppliers and allow us to offer these goods at lower prices. We are also working on developing our "Basic Needs Basket" program to ensure that grocery staples are available at very affordable prices.
DPFC applied to participate in the LINK program as a vendor on the day we received our business license from the city, the first day we were allowed to do so, and expect that to be ready to go in about a month (it takes 45 days for the state to process the application.) We have a small scholarship fund already in place, which will allow us to fund several memberships for low-income families who want to take part in the co-op. Membership will enable these families to receive all of the benefits of membership that every member receives, including discounts.
While our landlords are definitely wonderful, real estate professionals have assessed that we are actually paying market value rent for this area of Logan Square, same as any other retailer would. Our landlords, like the co-op itself, need to make enough money to pay the expenses of keeping this endeavor going or it's not going to last very long. We do get a good amount of volunteer assistance from our members, but even that costs the co-op some money in the discounts that volunteers are offered for their time & effort.
In the ten days that the store has been open, it has been our true pleasure to meet people who come in and tell us how they have been waiting for the store to open, how happy they are that we are in the neighborhood, how great the product line is. Every day of the week, we are selling out of breads, produce, and meats - many of which are provided to us by the same exact vendors that sell at the indoor farmer's market one day a week.
We are delighted to hear how happy everyone is with the store so far, but we take the complaints seriously as well because we are trying to be as strong a resource as we can for as much of the community as possible. If you have ideas on how to do that, your feedback is welcome, whether or not you are a co-op member. Fill out a comment card at the store, ask to speak to any of the management staff or board members who are around (we're at the store a LOT), come to a board meeting or contact us through our website - dillpickle.coop.
Thanks for the feedback, & we hope to see you at the co-op soon.
Kath Duffy
DPFC Board member
@kckcarr: Pricing on some items can be high, but pricing on many items are extremely competitive. If you were in the store, you noticed signs for many value-priced items in the co-op's "Basic Needs" program, which is promised to expand in the near future.
@gbasst: The Logan Square Farmers Market is great. But it's open four hours a week, on one day. The Dill Pickle is open 64 hours a week, all seven days. I don't know about you, but I prefer not to plan my Sunday mornings around grocery shopping. And the co-op offers a much, much wider range of products.
The best way to help the co-op fulfill its mission ("to provide sustainable, local, and organic goods at an affordable price") is to go to the store, talk to the staff, fill out a comment card. And if you're a member-owner, you have an even
(my last sentence above got cut off:)
And if you're a member-owner, you have an even greater opportunity to shape co-op policies and practices.
"Do not use the comment threads purely to promote your own site, product, or business."
mahoganyW--
I think the Board Member is well within her rights to address the questions posed here, and to clarify points posted.
It's different (and better) than "Ooooh, cute cat! I needlepoint kitties on my Esty site <insert link here>."
One comment was deleted from this thread at the request of its author.
Two additional comments were deleted from this thread the request of their author.
Hi all -
I've been made aware that some posters on this thread may have been contacted by someone saying they represent the co-op and asking them to remove their comments. This may be an overzealous member or fan of the store, but the official DPFC stance is that we would really prefer that the discussion remain open and public and that your comments, positive or negative, remain a part of it. Please don't take your comments down; the discussion has been valuable so far and we'd love to see it continue in that vein.
Many thanks!
Kath Duffy
DPFC Board member