Been to the Olney store several times and each time the checkout staff are unfriendly :(

Roots market gets to the root of all things healthy, organic and sustainable. I LOVE this little market. It's 1.5 miles from my home. They are socially conscious. They have interesting products (Apples from Australia are AWESOME!) and the entire store smells delicious! I don't know what combination of aromatherapy they use, but it's such a pleasant environment to shop in. I love supporting local farmers & experimenting w/new products. Staples for me? Multivitamins, Good Belly Juice (great for smoothies), Falafal Chips, Fresh Guac, Sage, Incense, & move over Hallmark - Greeting Cards! read more

Fantastic selection, helpful staff, and the best selection of vegan items anywhere.

Love shopping here for groceries, beer, wine, health supplements and most of all their hot foods, soups and salads bar! When ever I don't pack a lunch for work I end up swinging by here. All about the fresh soups or a freshly made egg salad sandwich. They also have some great offerings from local bakeries like baked and wired. read more

I love having such a great organic grocery store 10 minutes from my home. I like the size: it's not too overwhelming, but big enough to have lots of choices. Fresh, local and organic produce. Helpful staff. Lovely cheese selections; lots of vegan choices; fresh, made-in-the-store sushi, goat milk yogurt; microbrewery beers and organic wines; I'm in heaven! Whole Foods watch out, Roots gives us a great experience, and is what you should be! read more

Know your prices! If you've been buying vegan,etc for a while you should already know it gets expensive everywhere you go. Some things are expensive(but quality) and some are at a great deal. Their fruits and vegetables are always fresh and sometimes are a great deal like often they'll have avocados for a $1 each or kale bunch for $1.99. They have a great variety of different foods,drinks, ready made sandwiches sushi, bulk items, home and beauty products,and even beer(growlers,too) and wine. The staff is friendly and super helpful. I love this store. read more

I love Roots! I look forward to anytime I'm in the area so that I can stop in to find the best selection of local foods carried by anyone in the DC metro area. They've got Whole Foods beat in that department. I hear people about the prices, but I don't think they're any worse on national brands. Some of the local foods are more expensive but that's just how it is for non-mass scale producers. They also carry a nice selection of gifty items and prepared foods that are unique an exciting. Also, lots of the merchants come in and meet with customers on the weekends-when was the last time you met the woman who makes your soap and lotion at Whole Foods! read more

Roots is a very nice market with a great selection of local, natural, organic wholesome foods and self care products. They also have a good selection of wine not found in area liquor/wines stores, However, even though its close to my home and I like it, I only go there for emergency pick-up of items because its very expensive with most items being $1-$3 more than Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and national markets who carry many of the same products. For this reason, I'm only giving it three stars. read more

We love Roots and often frequent the hot bar for lunch. They have some of the best chicken for lunch and many tasty vegan options. I love they hold food quality as a priority and am willing to pay extra for this. Sometimes the fruit and produce has gone bad so make sure to check before you buy. Also, I have seen the raw food section vary greatly over the years. Still, it's nice there are some options. read more

I was in the neighborhood and stopped by just to check things out. The place is clean, parking convenient and the employees are pleasant enough. I bought vegan curry chicken salad- delicious! I actually do eat meat but I truly enjoyed the textures and flavor. I also grabbed some organic sour cream and some sugar cookies from the little bakery section near the checkout and there were probably some of the best cookies I've ever had. They are huge and soft with a wonderful buttery taste. If you're looking to splurge I'd say try them out. They are expensive and I wouldn't shop here for the week or anything. read more

One of the best places in MoCo for all things organic. Produce is local and fresh; lots of options in bulk for raw foods, e.g., nuts, oats, beans, etc., lots of prepared food options for vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, etc. Aisles and aisles of organic foods; a freezer section full of organic ice cream and frozen foods. Pretty much if you're looking for any organic products, you will find it here. I think one of the things I appreciate most about this store is that it reminds me of one of my favorite markets in CA when I was living there for a little bit. The only catch about this place -- its a little bit expensive, but on the upside, you're getting good quality products! read more

Expensive. Fruits/veggies aren't always the best/freshest. But honestly, can't get many of the items anywhere else in the area, including organic meats, canned/dried goods & frozen items. Closest other store is Whole Foods and that's in Kentlands or near White Flint. So Roots is a regular shopping spot for me. read more

Very good for organic staples but if you want seafood or meat forget it. I gave it a shot but I am going back to Whole Foods.

They're awesome, but I sometimes get lesser customer service when I happen to be wearing military insignia. C'est la vie, I don't much care, because I like ROOTS! read more

I do wish they had this market in other parts of the country. I love coming here when I visit my family back home. They have an astounding selection, organized layout, and awesome local bites. I love their vegan options, and also the healthy beauty section. I find the prices to be quite competitive with other health stores. Roots I'm coming for you! read more

So I love this place. Its a bit out the way for me but I am willing to make the trip because of their clearance section and their cheese and cheese card program. I also love their sushi. I am only giving them 4 stars since they just got rid of their cheese card program. It was a great marking tactic that really got me to keep coming back. I will still go there but I am hoping they bring back the cheese cards. read more

Fantastic place. They have a wide variety of cheese, gluten-free, vegetarian food, wine, beer, etc. Plus, employees are always very gentle.

It's expensive but it's all organic, if you are just looking at prices then I guess don't shop here. I like the interesting seasonal produce you can find here that you won't find other places. They have have a better section of nuts and dried foods than Whole Foods. I also like their unique hummus' and dips. The staff is always friendly and eager to help. read more

Do you like snacks? I do, so I always find myself here, munching on all the free samples. Roots gets their money back from me, though. The good: aforementioned snacks. Excellent products like Beyond Meat, the best fake chicken ever, and a wide selection of bulk goods like nuts, beans, etc.. Beer and wine, and sometimes tastings for those too! I also like to come for lunch, get a sandwich or sushi, an iced tea, and a little Theo chocolate bar. And the parking and overall crowdedness is way better than Whole Foods or Trader Joe's! (Although they really do need to put in that light on Georgia Ave, because turning in there can be a pain). The people there are nice and only a few are slightly snobby. The less good: The produce is pricey and not as appealing as the equally expensive produce at Whole Foods. We tend to go to the farmer's market or a local orchard in the summer. Overall, it's not cheap, you have to just pay attention to the prices. read more

Roots has a great selection of local foods. They are on the pricey side, but I don't mind paying a little extra for fresh and local foods. The hot food bar is always delicious and a good option for a fast meal. read more

This is the only grocery store that doesn't stress me out. This is the only grocery store I know of with consistently fresh and beautiful produce. It is a little pricier than mainstream grocery stores, but it is worth it to me. I am not made of money, don't get me wrong. It is not as crazy-expensive as Whole Foods. It is also on a smaller scale, which makes the shopping experience more manageable, and you can do it quickly. Like I said, it is low-stress grocery shopping. Try the hot-bar or salad bar instead of getting take-out some time. Let the people who work there help you find something. They are super cool, and seem to genuinely want to help you out. I'm going to go buy my groceries now. Seeya! read more

This is absolutely the best place to visit if you want to try healthy plant based foods. They have so many products, including prepared deli items that are 100 percent plant based. The hot food bar and prepared soups are restaurant quality. their gluten free section is also very good. Even though they are not close to me, it's worth the trip to stock up on everything I can. read more

I used to love Roots! They are the only place that sells paleo bacon and paleo approved bone broth. I was there this past Saturday, June 4th. I only needed one thing from the meat department. When I walked back to the meat area, they were picked clean. I mean shelves completely bare with maybe 2 or 3 packages of meat. How can this happen on a Saturday when everybody usually does their grocery shopping. I had to ask somebody for help and they disappeared for over 5 minutes to tell me that the meat shipment came in but hadn't been out out yet. I was there around 12:30PM. Then, the wine. What happened to the wine selection? I used to come to roots for my favorite wine - they carried a red blend by Gerard Bertrand. Apparently, someone else took over the wine department and not only has the selection changed, but it is also a lot smaller. I also came for my bone broth on Saturday, which there was non in the freezer aisle. Totally cleaned out. If this wasn't enough, we bought a ton of produce on Saturday. At Roots I don't worry about the expiration dates, etc. BIG mistake. I didn't realize until I opened my spring mix lettuce packs two days later that they expired on Saturday June 4! The day I bought them! Really?!? Now today, I found the red peppers I bought to be rotting in my fridge. This should not happen and this is kind of the last straw for me. I will get my bacon and wine online and move on....... How can a store be out of meat, out of bone broth, stop carrying good wine and sell spoiled produce? read more

I decided recently to make a large purchase of Vega products at Roots rather than Whole Foods, preferring to give my money to a local business than the big chain. Today I am so happy I made that decision, and I want to give a shout-out to Roots for being the upstanding business I believed them to be. I purchased over $100 of Vega products that day, only to find that they make me incredibly ill. If you Google it, it turns out this is actually quite common, so I complained to Vega, who dismissed my complaint out-of-hand, completely letting me down as I had really believed in them as well. Roots on the other hand is willing to offer a full refund, and to stand behind the products they sell. Clearly unlike Vega they know that doing the right thing in the short term earns long-lasting dividends. They have earned a loyal customer for life today. I always enjoyed shopping there before, but now I will recommend them to everyone I can. read more

Ok so i love this place although I know that a lot of people think its expensive. I think this place is no worse than whole foods in their prices and often times I think its better. They have so many samples...way more than whole foods ever has out and they have like everything you could want. Their produce as far as i have ever seen is always awesome as well as their household items, pharmacy and alcohol sections. I don't know what other people mean when they say this place is small....its not small at all to me....same size as any whole foods market. One really cool thing is looking through their discounted items....you can find some real deals if you always check there first. Its at the end of the first isle when you walk in the door. I think most of all that this place is a break from the mega market of whole foods. I just like the feel here better. Also, roots market is part of 4 stores called conscious corner....also including Bark (an organic/natural petstore), Great Sage (Organic restaurant with organic cocktails!) and Nest (Natural Elements Selected Thoughtfully). This location only has Roots Market and Bark. All four are located at their clarksville location. Also, they always have this magazine called Delicious Living that is free up at the register....it contains awesome coupons and you can just grab it everytime you come in the store for no hassle discounts (plus the magazine is an interesting read too). Look at the bottom of your roots receipt in order to get a discount at one of the other stores involved in conscious corner! The parking has never been a problem for me and i have been here quite a few times.... read more

Roots is a great source of gluten-free and dairy-free groceries. They are the only store in the DC area that carries Daiya shredded vegan cheddar (which tastes just like real American cheese). They also sell Kinnitoos cookies (that look and taste just like Oreos), and coconut milk ice cream (that tastes so much better than soy or rice milk ice cream) and coconut milk coffee creamer. They sell rice pasta, milk-free chocolate bars and chocolate chips, even Quinoa flakes - a great replacement for matzoh meal in burgers. We have food allergies in our family and Roots is our best resource. We love this place! read more

I shop at ROOTS occasionally and agree that their prices are high. I went today to buy bulk oatmeal, and brought my own container in an attempt to be green. I thought was part of what ROOTS is about. I had my container weighed, filled it and took it to the cashier. It took quite some time, at least 3 people, and they never could figure out how to weigh and price the oatmeal. I finally figured out what the price should be on my cell phone. After the cashier rang it up, she told me "next time, you should use a plastic bag." I told her the point was not to use a plastic bag that I don't need. So she told me to fill the plastic bag, have it weighed, and then put it in my glass jar. How does that save a plastic bag? UUGGHHH! Next time, I'll go to MOMS, they handle this situation perfectly. Have purchase bulk items in my container multiple times. read more

I absolutely adore Roots Market. My only qualm is that there isn't one closer than 30 minutes from my house. It's the only place in the area where I can get favorites like Daiya cheese and Uncle Eddie's cookies. They have almost anything a hungry vegan could dream of! It is definitely the best grocery store in the DC area, by far. The only downside is that the place is incredibly far away from, well, everything. If only it was a bit more accessible! read more

Yum yum yum!! Why drive all the way to Whole Foods when there's a Roots near you. This grocery store is such a delight with all the variety that it provides. The hot bar is Delish and drink selection (including beer and wine) is unparalleled. The prices are so reasonable. This market is such a hidden gem. Eat, shop, and drink healthy and affordable!! read more

Stopped in for just a few things and the service here was better than I've ever had at a grocery store. Wish I had one in my neighborhood I'd shop here all the time. read more

No Passover food. Not even matzah. Flour and water? Really? At least they consistent. I have never seen foods here for the Jewish holidays. At best, the proprietor is culturally insensitive, or ignorant. At worse, it's much sadder. In either case, I won't be shopping here in the future. read more

The only reason I'm giving this place 2 stars is because I used to love it and all of their vegan options. I went there every week without fail for the 2 years I've been in the area. Yesterday my debit card was stolen and it takes a couple days to send a new one. So, I called Roots to make sure they took checks since that's the only way I had to pay. I was told "yes". So I went grocery shopping, got all of my items and went to check out. At check out I was told that the only way they accept checks is if your part of some program. I said "ok, how do I sign up?" But then I was told that then you have to wait a week or so until you get a membership card- no exceptions. I spoke to the manager and store manager, explained my situation and still they would not accept my check. So I embarrassingly dumped out all of my bagged food and left. Thank you to the staff who tried to help me but no thanks to Andy, the store manager, who was a complete jerk. Such a shame that I won't be returning to a store I once raved about. read more

They focus on booze heavily. The prices are also very high compared to other organic stores like MOMs and Whole Foods; Id say 30%-100% higher. read more

A decently priced, local, fair trade organic market? What? Is it my birthday? Between the well stocked cheese counter with knowledgeable sales people, a good selection of local/organic produce and prepared foods to make you drool, I was in heaven. Well worth the drive from downtown Silver Spring! read more

This place is nothing special. While the samples are always good and I've never had anything from here that I didn't like, the prices are sky high. $4.99 for 3oz of vegan cheesecake? Really? Also, never approach the sales people. They're ultra pushy. I asked them about a product today and they spent a good three minutes trying to sell me something else before telling me they didn't have what I wanted. I'll stick to Whole Foods, thanks. read more

I just took my first trip to Roots today and loved it! I have a child on the autism spectrum and have wanted to start him on a gluten-free casein-free diet after learning that this intervention is helpIng so many kids, but it hasn't been easy to find the products I need to commit to this lifestyle until I found Roots. I found gluten-free bread and it tasted as good if not better than the "real" thing. I found some yummy lentil chips and even GF chocolate cupcakes that were to die for. My non-verbal child started signing repeatedly for more cupcake (a big event since he doesn't really do sign language yet). In addition to this awesome motivational tool, I found beautiful organic produce. I'll be going back to Roots! read more

The beer selection is awesome. They have beers everyone has heard of and even a few not many people have heard of. The cheese selection is pretty awesome too, great selection of stinky cheese, my favorite. But back to the beer, the people who take care of that section really seem to know their stuff. If you get a chance to talk to Samantha, she really knows her stuff. read more

Love this place. Friendly, helpful staff and great selection for a small market. Yes, it is pricey, but no more than Whole Foods or and other natural foods store. I love the amount of local items they sell and they have a great beer and wine section. read more

My husband and I started going to the Roots in Olney after moving to the area three years ago. It started out great, especially since they had a lot of gluten free foods and organic meat. But in the past 6 months, they have really gone downhill. They changed their organic chicken and it is beyond expensive-- and the quality is awful. Today I went in to find they no longer carry any paneer cheese and the staff barely knew where to find things. I had a few items in my grocery bag and the total cost was over $60.00. I think I will be making the trip to Whole Foods from now on-- for one thing, they have organic chicken that is not as expensive and is much better quality. read more

Foods in here always fresh, this place is always clean and organize. I try their foods and end up fall in love with their theirVegan chicken curry wrap! It's like $7.99 but quality is superb so. The other thing, their salsa is what I always get. :) healthy food!!!! read more