Love, love, love this place! The raisin croissant and dark beauty smoothie are the best!!! Prices are decent ;D but I don't mind spending more on good food ^0^ #organic #NOGMOPLEASEANDTHANKS read more

Central Co-op - Turkey Sammich ^0^ - Grocery Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Great variety of produce (bruising is none to minimal), meat, and pantry items. They do a nice job of providing a large selection of organic, non gmo products, and stay local when available. They offer raw grass fed cows milk which is hard to find. They are very picky putting a lot of thought and research into curating what goes on their shelves so you can feel really good about what your buying. Small deli selection tends to be quite protein and grain heavy and pricier lacking cheaper lighter salad options. Wide variety bulk spice section and bulk dried goods section. Indoor and outdoor seating. Pricing is fair and reasonable. Friendly staff. They recently redid their garage to increase parking capacity. They do have a mix of compact and suv spaces however smaller vehicles often park in suv spaces leaving compact spaces for suvs making parking difficult. read more

I love living near a co-op even if I'm not a member. I live across the street from a QFC and try my hardest to walk up the hill to Madison Market and Trader Joes. Madison has the best variety and best prices for the most part on organic produce. They usually have an everyone special on something. I'm on a serious budget but believe it's important to support local independent farmers so I do what I can. I definitely can't afford to support local and organic shopping at QFC and Safeway, the other options in my neighborhood. As for the negative words about the staff I've always been treated with respect and I don't know how "sweet" it is working at a co-op but I do know dealing with the public can be tiresome. If you want some real disdain from the staff go to QFC. read more

I love Madison Market! It's a great community business in the heart of Capitol Hill. I chose "moderate" as the pricing for this review because they carry a ton of organic and local foods that to some might seem more expensive but when you factor in that it's organic or local it's better for all of us in general. They always have a great variety of produce which I really appreciate. Also their selection of "alternative" food products like soy-free and gluten-free foods is outstanding. With my allergies I can't purchase a cheap loaf of bread to eat at some chain grocery so the price of a loaf of bread I CAN eat here is to me "moderate" and I'm just grateful to have it available. The deli at Central Co-Ops Madison Market is amazing as well! From it's soups to it's fresh juice options I think they do a pretty great job. Thanks for keeping it local and community centered! read more

Love this place. Thank god it's in my neighborhood but even if it wasn't I would travel to get there. Great staff, great products, great deli, great beer and wine selection. Thank you Madison Market!! read more

I have never seen such rude or disrespectful people in all my life. The condescending, passive aggressive, pseudo hippies absolutely kill the vibe. No longer will I be a member. I will be pulling my membership and will also be pulling my products from their shelves. I'm not only a member but I am a vendor whose product was formerly carried in their store and I will be recommending some of the other vendors do the same. Can't have my products associated with these people. read more

MY FEELS, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO FEEL. As far as the actual grocery store goes, the items and selection are great, if pricey (but that's what you get at a co-op, and it's cheaper than Whole Foods or PCC). BUT THE EMPLOYEES. THE EMPLOYEES. Most of them are basically rude, super checked-out, and entitled. There's one person who works there who I really, really like, who went way out of their way to help me find gluten-free stuff one day to take to a party (I'm not gluten-free so I really didn't know what to get). That person was great. Then the other day, I went in there to get some coffee and a couple pastries real quick on my way to an appointment. Being very, very polite at all times to everyone is one of my core values, so I didn't go in there with an "I have to be somewhere so hurry up!!" attitude at all. I ordered a latte, got a couple pastries, and paid, expecting that more or less the next thing that would happen would be my coffee would, you know, get actually made or something. NOPE. There were two people in line behind me, so the woman running the register helped the one behind me first, which is fine. Then, though, she started helping the next person - it turned out they were just chatting about some kind of elderberry supplement or something. Seemed like they knew each other. They were having like this long engaged conversation about supplements, at the coffee and pastry counter, while I'm standing there waiting for my coffee that she hadn't even started making yet that I already paid for. There were also like 3 people behind the deli counter making salads - can they not make coffee? I ended up being so pissed that I walked out without my coffee and $4 poorer. I'll limit my purchases to groceries from now on. And PLEASE brush up on your customer service. read more

I have been shopping here for years, and I love the selection of organic foods. The deli often has a delicious selection of prepared foods that are tasty and natural. What I have never understood is why are most of the employees so unpleasant. I'm not asking them to be my new best friend, but they certainly could act as if they were at least not bothered by doing their job. There are a couple of checkers I intentionally avoid. I do have to say that the people in the produce department have been wonderful and helpful as have people working at the information counter near the entrance. read more

there's no easy way to say this so i'll proclaim my love openly: this place is far superior to pcc and other cooperatives. i go out of my way to shop here. the selection is great, the bulk section is fantastic, the prices are unbeatable and the produce is always fresh. the aisles can feel a bit cramped but they're in a small space. i do appreciate the fact there is a garage you can park in if patronizing the establishment, so you don't have to fight for on street parking in the infamous capitol hill neighborhood where, unless you are masterful at parallel parking and going around the block numerous times until a spot opens, you can almost always find a spot. i've never had a problem with the staff being rude or unhelpful as other people have mentioned but i go in knowing what i am looking for and have even been asked by staff as i've walked down the aisles if i need any help finding anything. i have pretty much stopped going to pcc despite working right next door to one; mostly because i am not in the habit of paying for their environmentally friendly remodels with the unnecessarily heightened prices. seriously! if you do side by side comparisons of the same item at central coop and pcc, central coop's price is 9 times out of 10 going to be cheaper. read more

Wow, I'm shocked to read reviews from people who have experienced bad service here. I visit this market almost every day for lunch (I work right down the street) and have never experienced anything remotely resembling bad service. There is a great selection of prepared foods, a juice bar, espresso and mate, organic produce, and tons of healthy frozen meals. I also discovered recently that in the procduce section they make excellent salads that you can purchase-- you might miss them if you just go to the deli counter. Last Thursday, I also got the best service I've EVER had at a grocery store, in fact! I dragged myself in to get provisions after a horrible night of being sick with food poisoning. The two female checkers I talked to not only were totally sympathetic and sweet, but they recommended some good foods/drinks to try. Btw: coconut water is so good for rehydrating. It has more electrolytes than gatorade and only a fraction of the sugar and calories. Not to mention it is clear, not some gross artificial color. It's worth it to become a member if you shop here often or live nearby. Their bulk section rocks, and they even have discounts on some basic "staples" such as quinoa, brown rice, etc. There's a sign up about it in the elevator from the parking garage; i've been meaning to reread it and stock up. Really, the only issues I have with this place are that sometimes the selection leaves something to be desired, and I REALLY think they need a smaller version of Whole Foods' salad bar. read more

I do most of my shopping here because it is so close and I don't have to spend an extra hour checking if there are toxic ingredients in the food. I love the variety of fruit and vegetables that they offer, and shopping for food feesl like I'm making myself my happy, healthy, and beautiful from the inside out. At first I found it to be very pricey and a sort of a fad place for granola-eating, flannel-wearing, annoying tree-hugger types, but when I quit smoking I took a new interest in taking care of my body and I looked on their website and found that none of their products carry any of these ingredients I realized that the prices of their food was absolutely justifiable. Do not contain: * Artificial flavors * High-fructose corn syrup * Hydrogenated oils * Trans fats * Nitrites * Nitrates * Genetically Modified Organisms* * Recombinant bovine growth hormones * Irradiated products* It may sound simple, but it is actually pretty hard to find products that don't contain any of these things. Most of their products also use natural sweeteners like Stevia, agave nectar, dates, honey, and minimize processed sugars. QFC is slightly cheaper, but not much, and certainly not as nutritious, and it does not support smaller domestic farmers, producers, and manufacturers, which is essential for the American economy. I did not give it five stars because the customer service is really bad. I am used to it now, so I have accepted that you have to act like you work there if you want the employees to treat you with respect. My first few times there were horrendous. One time, the checker was very patronizing and said, "can you help take the things out of your basket and put them on the belt? We can do it together." He said it in a very Mr. Rogers kind of way. At any other grocery store, you just put your filled basket on the conveyer belt, and the checker takes each item out one by one as he scans it and and then bags it. They basically have the attitude like, "Who the **** do you think I am, a grocery checker or something? Yeah, well if you want me to do more than an automated self-checkout at QFC would do, then you should just go there." read more

I'd say this place is $$$, not $$ I go there often because of fresh fish and chicken hearts and bread I cannot find anywhere else, but then stop by Trader to get sweets and cucumbers. So far the quality of produce was always really good in COOP. Also my kombutcha Scooby and water kefir grains are alive and well for half a year already, think it was a good investment ! read more

Expensive. Yowza! Having been going to co-ops and lots of GF style groceries as of late I'm pretty familiar with how costly this kind of place can be... but Central makes them all look cheap. For example I saw three different prices for Zico's Coconut Water on the day I came here. Safeway was $3.69, TJ's was $3.89 and Central was $6.89. Three dollars more for the same thing?! Are you serious?! Crazy. And that was how the pricing was for the few things I buy often enough to know their prices... all of them were quite a bit more expensive here. This will definitely be a shop I come to for very specific items if I can't find them elsewhere. Initially my friend and I came here looking for those things we can't find. Unsweetened almond milk that is compliant with our diet, GF and sugar free pastries or baked goods and just anything else that may make life easier in the weird diet department. We didn't find anything that would work for us but I was impressed with how much organic and fresh produce they offered. On the plus sides the facilities were hella clean and the staffers were really friendly in that laid back co-op sorta way. It's also a short walk down the hill from TJ's so if you park at TJ's, get some shopping done and still need some stuff you can swing by and then be on your way without having to fight traffic or parking all over the city. All in all this is a cool spot but I definitely had sticker shock over the prices I saw. Give 'em a shot though. I'm a fan. read more

Great neighborhood co-op with a decent selection of chilled kombucha, locally-made chocolate, and enough craft beer to satisfy my diet. I've even found some Native American-crafted buffalo jerky that was pretty tasty and didn't inspire the gout in me. So, A+ for delectable snackage and the relatively-unsullied conscience I have when I choose to spend my dollars here. read more

Central Co-op has free parking! Store is great, a very nice Deli area, when you enter. Seating area inside and out. The lay-out is good. They have good produce, fresh meats, and much items similar to Whole Foods and PCC, and almost everything is sourced locally when possible. The prices are decent. The staff is very friendly and helpful. Although I am not a member, I still shop here often. Membership is $60 bucks. Membership benefits are special saving events, coupons & discounts, and private member events such as wine tasting, food tasting, workshops, demos, movie nights, and more. Shop local & eat local, it is good for the community! read more

They woman who checked me out was so rude! There was no one in line, I put my basket on the belt and moved forward to get ready to pay. The woman took my basket, put it on the far end of the belt, and told me to unload it. If I'm going to pay double to shop at this elitist grocery store, I expect better customer service! read more

Attention Central Co-Op customers: Bag Your Own, Suckers! This a.m., the surly cashier who scanned my groceries didn't lift a finger to bag them. After he finished scanning the items, he turned his back to me and then stared into space, while I ran my payment card and bagged. He didn't offer to help. He didn't say 'thanks.' While I was still bagging, he rang up the next customer's one item, and then went back to standing around (his back to me again), while I bagged. (I was the guy in the bike helmet, in case you're reading this.) On previous visits, cashiers have practically thrown my items into the bagging area (for me to bag, of course). Or when they have bagged the groceries, they've just put whatever happens to be within reach--heavy items, light items, whatever--carelessly inside the bag. (To be fair, some cashiers have been courteous and helpful.) I don't mind helping with the bagging, but the cashier really needs to take over, when he or she is done scanning the items. And a "thanks" would be great, seeings as I'm doing his job for him. If that's too much to ask, Central Co-Op should automate the check stands, fire the lazy cashiers, and pass the savings on to the member-owners. read more

Yes, this place has great groceries. It's WAY too expensive for me though. I'm sorry. I can get organic and local for less at Trader Joe's. WAY less. read more

Best produce in seattle! I go out of my way to shop here plus there is a parking garage.

I have no clue why there are any negative reviews for this place. Every neighborhood needs a place like this! Not only do they have a wide selection of foods for all diet preferences and needs, but they make a conscious effort to provide local produce in varieties you might never have heard of before! For instance, my new favorite apple is the "King David" apple, which I'd never seen at another grocery store or farmers market. Turns out it's a super sweet/tart full of flavor deep red apple that's light and crisp. This is what apples should taste like! It's not genetically modified, it's locally grown and organically produced. Hallelujah! This coop is a prime example of variety and sustainability and I only wish there were more of them in the world! read more

I love this place so much. Sometimes I am literally here twice a day. Not only is all the produce beautiful and organic, the staff is amazing and almost offensively charming and attractive. Today when I stopped by for dinner fixin's, I was greeted and welcomed BY NAME by a gentlemen stacking fruit mosaics that would have made M.C. Escher weep bitter demon tears. When this meticulous produce stacker asked how my day was going, I nearly dropped my beet. I sensed he truly wanted to know. Never in my life have I felt so welcomed at a grocery store. Furthermore, as I was leaving another staff member tucked my tag into my tank top and informed me that no one else in my life loved me enough to tuck it in. Does this mean she loves me more than anyone? I feel like the staff is very passionate about me and I am passionate about the Central Co-op. read more

over rated, over priced with a BIIIIIG attitude from all the staff. With all the old businesses in Seattle going under I hate to cut an old shop down, but, this is one place that I would actually celebrate if it left. Too many other great grocery stores in Seattle to chose from to waste your time and money on this place. read more

Poor service (as in, go out of their way to not help), way over-priced (why can I buy some of the same non-unique products elsewhere for half as much?), ridiculously poor quality produce (which makes no sense at all), and consistent bad odor (which may or may not be related to the unwashed help). Nonetheless, it is the neighborhood natural food store and, to give them credit, they usually stock a bit of everything, which makes it possible to do some natural cooking in the city. We shop there for those things that you can't get elsewhere, but each trip involves a cringe. The prices alone are enough to encourage you to get in the car and drive to a big box store (irony, irony). read more

If you gave this co-op less than three stars, let me offer you some helpful advice: (1) Remove your negative, hater review and (2) Get yourself over to Whole Foods because that's where you belong. Central Co-Op is great. The staff is always warm, welcoming and helpful. I see a lot of reviews bashing the staff. My questions is this: have you ever been to a co-op before? I'm not sure exactly what you expect but Central Co-Op falls right in line with my past experiences at Co-Ops and other natural markets across the nation. It's clear from reading their reviews that these people just want to be treated as the exalted royalty that they view themselves as. They then get intensely offended when a staff member doesn't bow down and lick the ground they walk on. Luckily for these individuals there is a place in this world where they can feel right at home amongst the trend-following, hybrid-Lexus driving narcissists of the world: Whole Foods, Inc (not a co-op). Now to the good stuff...Central Co-Op has a great variety of in-store products and can special order just about anything else that you can think of. Their bulk section is relatively expansive. Another cool program they have is offering reduced prices on daily essential goods like canned beans, certain fruit and produce, rice, and other products. Apparently, they have worked with their vendors to offer these products at a discounted rate (i.e $0.99 for a can of organic Garbanzo beans). For members, they have 5% off all purchases on second Wednesdays in addition to offering a 10% discount on one purchase each month. Discounts aren't exclusive to members either: they have a bunch of rotating discounts that are available to non-members as well. Sorry to go on like this, I actually just wanted their phone number. I was just so astounded to see all these uptight bougie mo-fos giving them bad reviews that I felt inclined to give my perspective. Anyway: go to Central Co-Op....IT'S GOOD!!!! read more

Kind of wish I could go here every day and maybe I will. Just discovered this place a couple weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised. Wonderful selection of food and vegan food too, with amazingly reasonable prices (cheaper than PCC) and well stocked. A truly fun place to go grocery shopping on and also they have products that I have never even seen before that were delicious! Wayward Vegan Cafe & Hillside Quickie supply some of their pre-made sandwiches (yum!) so check this place out people!! read more

I'm on my second co-op membership as I moved away and cashed out, then moved back and re-joined. Love that I can do move of my household shopping here (including the essential food groups: coffee, wine, and chocolate) and that the co-op has been a long-time contributor to the neighborhood and offers good jobs with decent benefits. I don't understand the comments about rude staff in other reviews; with very, very few exceptions, staff are fantastic and helpful. It can be more expensive than your overage QFC, but the quarterly owner discount days and regular sales cycles can easily be "gamed" for better affordability. For example, laundry detergent is regularly marked down by about 1/2. Etc. You can also order a lot of things by the case for a discount, for example, staples like rice or chickpeas. My only complaint is that in their effort to please customers (I assume), they sometimes offer too many things that are branded as natural or organic but are just junk food in disguise...I'd prefer a pared down selection that favors essential foods. I also sometimes wonder if it would be worth it for the co-op to move to a owner-worker model with an option to do work hours in exchange for a deeper discount, similar but distinct from the model used by the Park Slope Food Co-op, to offer greater affordability. Labor is a cost, and should be compensated, and when people complain about the higher cost at the coop the implicit unspoken and perhaps even unconscious statement is that we shouldn't pay people so much for their labor. But I digress. The co-op does have so much to offer: coffee bar, deli, great wine selection with weekly "adult beverage tastings", meat counter. Bulk foods. A good health and beauty section. And even a small selection of gardening items in season, including starts. read more

Best market in Seattle to by my vegan goods. Staff is good as long as you treat them like humans not slaves...(gee shouldn't everyone be treated that way??) read more

I love Central Coop. It's true. They have a great selection of local products, meats and organic produce, and while a bit on the pricey side, you get what you pay for. If I love them so much, then why only three stars? Well, I have to ding them quite heavily for their Deli. I come here quite often on lunch to either buy produce/supplies, or items from the deli, and I am consistently disappointed. I don't want to make assumptions that everyone employed at a Coop is a vegetarian, and I would further like to say that I know plenty of vegetarians that can cook a darn good cut of meat, so I can't figure why their rotating selection of prepared meats are so bland, overcooked and (consequently) overpriced. Flavorless chicken breasts, and pricey Salmon filets with just a hint of...Salmon flavor. The meatloaf is admittedly great, but slather anything with ketchup and you might be inclined to say this as well. I am almost finished, but I really need to mention the hardboiled eggs. They are impossible to peel, and the yolks are always boiled into grey and powdery oblivion. I understand that it must be difficult to boil a huge batch of eggs and not kill every last vestige of palatability, but fielding that issue past a few restaurant folks in the know suggests otherwise. If you are going to charge a premium for your prepared meats/proteins, please prepare them appropriately. I know. I don't have to buy it if I don't like it. But I want to support this business, and it's a shame to see good sources of local meat get such treatment! Positives: They know how to cook some veggies, for the most part, and I am usually not disappointed in this department, especially their root vegetable and squashes. And their carrot ginger soup has been awesome on the instances that I have tried it. LIke I said before, I love this business. I just wish I could walk away from the deli feeling like I got my money's worth. read more

We come here mainly for the produce, and keep shopping because of a nice selection on other products. I appreciate that food staples go on sale from time to time and take advantage. One tip, always take the small cart because aisles are narrow. So glad we became official members here! read more

I love this place. I'm a member, and I stop in every few days to pick up some groceries. There's a nice selection of grass-fed/organic meats, lovely produce, and plenty of other items in the aisles that I am unable to find at other grocery stores in the area. Lately, I've been spending more and more time perusing the bulk section, where there are great deals on spices, teas and other interesting things. The parking garage is small, but it's much easier to navigate than Trader Joe's on the next block, and it's free. I've only once had to wait for a spot to open up. Some of the things that have impressed me the most: The grass-fed ground beef (much better price than at TJ's); the eggs with the Madison Market label (good value and great quality); the bulk section; the cheese selection; the produce, in general; the probiotic foods. read more

This place makes their own tofu scramble mix!! It is soooo yummy. In fact it's so good they are always out! When I asked Tim ( the Market's grocery manger) when they would have more he took the time to show me how to make it myself, Awesome! read more

Very nice, clean. The bulk spice section is a great value.

They have everything you need, but they've already done all the research to make sure it's a good product. I love that I don't have to spend time reading labels! Produce is always good, too, which is hard to find where I live in the Central district. read more

i'm pretty sure if i made more money i would dig this place. but since i don't, it gets two stars. the selection is good, interesting, and specialized, but i simply can't afford granola, cheese, and some produce for 40 bucks. i'd have to agree with everyone about the staff.. when we inquired about membership they shot us down by coldly saying it wasn't worth it unless we shopped here all the time. hippies shouldn't judge! i can overlook both of these issues individually, but it's a gruesome twosome. i'd much rather go to trader joe's where the food is good and inexpensive, and the hippies welcome everyone. read more

excellllllllent selection of vegan baked goodies and veggie ready-made treats and lots of good co-op love. i could easily wander around this place for an hour looking at all the fun food and organic shampoos, cleaning supplies, supplements, hippie goods, etc. i would give this place 5 stars if they didn't sell dead animals (ugh) and if the check out hippie had been nicer. but she wasn't! 4 STARS! read more

We moved back to the mainland and became a member again! We love supporting this great community co-op. Let them know you want to round up your bill and the extra cents go to the two neighborhood area food banks. read more

I've been a member since they were located on 15th Ave. I frequent the store 4-5 times a week and consistently receive friendly service. Staff regularly ask me if I need help finding anything. One time I accidentally dropped a carton of milk, and it got quickly handled w/o me feeling like a dodo. I do wish they'd update/revisit their fresh juices and deli. It's the same sammie's, salads, veggie, rice dishes etc.. It would be great to see more creativity in the kitchen. Also, I'd like turmeric as an ingredient in one of their blended juices. read more

I've always loved it here. I love the smell of essential oils and herbs I get when I first walk in the door, and the fact everyone seems to smile at me if I smile back at them long enough. :p Local? honest? sustainable? renewable? .... I'm totally spoiled living next-door to this place. Yes, the prices are a tad higher, but keep in mind that this is what you SHOULD be paying for your food. This is REAL food... you get what you pay for. I think some of the past reviews had a point about bumping into the occasional "Mr Grumpy Pants"... but what employee doesn't have their days? I know I'd occasionally go nuts with a more picky clientele like a natural foods store would have. I like that I can stand in line casually, have a nice conversation with the checker, and not feel rushed like I do in other chain supermarkets with everyone's "gotta have it this second" mentality, constantly racing around in search of the best cheap zero-nutrient crap. Food should be a joy, and shopping for it, a treat. I definitely dig things being generally more relaxed here, I think that taking a few extra minutes out of your day to leisurely shop, and chatting up some of the employees here will almost guarantee you a great experience every time. Everyone Ive seen here is usually super nice and knowledgeable about food/cooking.. and chances are you'll pick up some great tips. Super bonus is that their health/beauty section comes equipped with a computer to look things up! So very awesome. WOOT! read more

I love Madison Market for what it is. Coming from Boulder and being a member of the Boulder Co-Op I know how mis-managed these places can be. It is definitely a pseudo-hippie grocery store that is run by hippies. This means sometimes you will find moldy bread or cheese past its prime. This also means however that you can find raw milk, awesome micro-brew beer, grass fed meat (Skagit Farms!) and a great selection of marinated tofu. This is the place I was first introduced to Mighty-O Donuts and the best seven grain bread I have yet to try (Tall Grass). The fact that I can ride my cruiser up to this place, buy my groceries and coast down Madison makes it even better. This is my neighborhood grocery and I am in love with going at least once a week to wander the aisles. I say go to this place expecting unique groceries and let some of the inadequacies just slide by...when at a hippie store you have to espouse some hippie ideals folks! read more

This is my favorite grocery store in Seattle. It is a little pricey, so I can't afford to shop for everything there. They have the best selection of vegan options in Seattle. read more