Food Shed Co-op Opening Day Announced

FOOD SHED CO-OP OPENING DAY ANNOUNCED

A new community-owned grocery store is swinging open its doors to the public after completing construction of its 9,000-square-foot building

Food Shed Co-op will open its grocery store to shoppers at 9 a.m., Wednesday, May 15, 2024. Food Shed Co-op Board of Directors invite the public to attend a ribbon cutting ceremony at their brand-new store in Woodstock, at 2390 Lake Shore Drive.

“Opening Day'' will be celebrated with brief remarks by co-op and community leaders, symbolic ribbon cutting, giveaways, and door-buster deals. The store will remain open until its usual closing time of 8 p.m. and then seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“Our Food Shed Co-op family will celebrate on the opening day”, stated Peter Waldmann, General Manager of Food Shed Co-op. “The community organizing started in 2014. The countless efforts over the last decade are humbling and inspiring to all of our associates. Food Shed Co-op staff, board, and business partners are working hard to meet our timelines. I thank them for their efforts,” said Waldmann.

Produce will be the co-op’s destination category. Another draw will be the grab & go deli, offering in house-made items and juice bar selections made with fresh, local ingredients. Other categories include frozen, dairy, meat, cheese, bakery, bulk, wine, beer, and there will be a wide selection of vegan and gluten-free choices. The store will carry many items in each category sourced from local growers and producers. 

The community-owned grocery store broke ground to build on their Woodstock property in July last year. Since its inception, the number of individuals purchasing equity shares in the co-op has soared to over 2100. Board President Rusty Foszcz remarked, “These people were the visionaries that started a movement and KNEW it was going to succeed!” Supporters who invested in equity shares from the start of the co-op until store opening brought the co-op to fruition, but you do not need to be an owner to shop. The store is open to everyone, and there are no restrictions on who can enjoy the co-op’s unique offerings.

Food Shed Co-op is a community-owned and controlled grocery store opening to the public on May 15, 2024. The store is located at 2390 Lake Shore Dr. Woodstock, IL. They prioritize local suppliers whenever possible. It will be a place for community members to gather, shop, and nourish their families. The co-op is committed to offering shoppers access to affordable quality foods and teaching people about the foods they eat. The store will have a full breadth of departments, with Produce as their signature category. Their mission is to offer only the best quality, sustainable, local, and organic produce in the marketplace.