People's Food Co-op was born from a buying club founded in 1973. Initially operating from a basement of a house, the club evolved into a small store. In the late 70s the co-op moved into a bigger location on La Crosse's Southside. Sales continued to grow steadily, and with the growth came a number of expansions and relocations. The co-op moved into its current downtown location in 1993 and at the time added a deli, bakery, fresh meats, and beer and wine department.
The co-op's success demanded, yet again, more space. This time, however, instead of relocating, the co-op embarked on an ambitious expansion project. The store reopened in November 2004 with 12,000 square feet of retail space. Along with improved selection, more checkout lanes, wider aisles, a brand new customer service desk, and many other practical and aesthetic improvements, the co-op also added a full-service restaurant, Hackberry's, on the second floor of the building.
The co-op offers local, organic and conventional produce, salad bar, full bakery and deli with a coffee bar and a deli seating area with a 'hot spot', grab-and-go foods, local meats and fresh fish and seafood, bulk grains, nuts and spices. Our nonfood products included a wellness department, floral, books and housewares, beer and wine, and much more.
In 2011, People's Food Co-op of La Crosse merged with the Good Food Store of Rochester, Minnesota. The new People's Food Co-op of Rochester will open a new store in downtown Rochester in the fall of 2013. Today, the People's Food Co-op is comprised of more than 6000 member households. Our mission is to promote community, grow a loyal and thriving membership, and establish ourselves as the best fresh food market in the country.