It's more than a hardware place, or pet supply, or farm supply. It's a living example of the old-time general store that had everything, and if they didn't have it then you darned well didn't need it and could get by without it.
I have been getting my poultry and livestock feed here since I was a kid. The co-op was founded in 1917 and is still going strong as a cooperative. They sell all types of farm supplies, from cattle fences and water troughs to hay, feed, veterinary meds/first aid supplies, and barn equipment, horse-care equipment and riding tack, even nose rings for bulls! In the spring you can order chicks to raise into egg-laying hens. There's a full line of garden supplies, including flowers, vegetable and herb plants in the spring and pumpkins and mums in the fall.
There's a whole section for bird feeders and a zillion types of bird food. They also have that bird feeder that gives marauding squirrels a merry-go-round ride off into the bushes. They play the video of this on a continuous loop. It grows on you.
Their pet supply section outclasses any of the the big chain pet specialty stores. Thank staff member Sue Young for that. She selects and stocks all the pet foods and accessories, and is an expert dog breeder/trainer and dog-show handler/groomer herself. Isn't that the kind of person you'd want choosing the handcrafted and organic lines (as well as all the popular top brands) of pet foods the Co-op sells?
Craftspeople and small farmers from around the county and New England sell their goods here -- it truly is a farm cooperative, still. You can get handmade toys,local honey and maple-sugar products, homemade soaps, chicken coops and wood-storage sheds, rabbit hutches, handmade patio furniture and Adirondack chairs.
They also carry Woolrich and Carhartt clothing and accessories, both for fashion and practical work. If you catch one of the season's-end clearance sales, you can get HUGE bargains on these things. I've gotten fleece vests, jeans, shorts, t's and sweaters for a fraction of their regular retail price (at any store) during the co-op's sales. Even when not on sale, their clothing prices are competitive with other retailers in the area. There are also muck boots, warm socks and all kinds of hats for work and dude-ranching.
There's a ton more stuff I won't get around to listing, but probably the other reviewers have mentioned a bunch of it, so maybe after enough people review, we'll have covered all the Co-op's inventory.
I love the community bulletin board where you can swap, buy and sell anything from tractors to alpacas to bulldog pups, find someone to babysit your pony or re-home a chick that grew into a lovable but loud rooster that needs a barnyard rather than a suburban backyard.
The co-op offers a "share holder" program where for a one-time purchase of 2 shares in the co-op ($20), you become a permanent member and get a 10% discount on any store merchandise every Tuesday. Tuesdays are probably the busiest day there as all us shareholders do our shopping then. Once a year there is a share holder meeting, which is more of a get together over dinner, with entertainment and a report of the year's doings.
Someone wrote that they wished they lived closer. They are in Salem. So am I and I go at least every other Tuesday. It's only, like, 11 or 12 miles from where I live in South Salem! A half hour. I drive longer than that to go the additional 10 miles up Route 1 to the Agawam Diner in Rowley for pie! Suck it up and take a ride to the Essex County Co-op. It's well worth it. Right across from the Topsfield Fairgrounds. read more
