Alberta Cooperative Grocery

The Alberta coop is always on my shopping list. A whole foods is the closest grocery store near me– and I do like them too– but Alberta coop had unique delicious produce at often much better prices than whole foods.
The boxed goods vary by comparison, but the overall mission of a coop is respectable and I hope they remain in the neighborhood for a long time to come.
I bought the membership when I moved into the neighborhood and the free chinook book coupons which came with it have already paid for itself.

Pretty good bulk bins. A bit on the pricy side but it’s a good investment. Sometimes produce isn’t super fresh, but that is to be expected in such a small store where there isn’t a high turnover.

The produce here is beautiful. Seriously I walk through and think– wow I need to eat me some more veggies. I also find that it is (the produce) reasonably priced and seems to be more locally based produce (big bonus). As for the rest of my groceries– forget it. This place is pricey (I’m not a co-​op member, but have compared prices to larger stores and its more). Selection is also limited. Its a good place to stop for a few items, but I can’t buy everything I need here.
Lastly (and on a random note), I purchased chicken stock on sale here the other day (the regular price was way more expensive than stock found elsewhere) and realized that in the midst of being cheap I ended up purchasing chicken stock with a use by date that expired more than 6 months ago. I’m by no means a food expert and suspect things are safe to eat way past their expiration date, but chicken stock kind of sketched me out. My soup also tasted a little funny, but perhaps if I had not noted the date I would have imagined the soup was fine? At any rate, great produce, but skip for other items.

This review is NOT based on their produce or market goods haha. My friends and I were exploring Alberta Street and we were told there was this game to be played at the market. So… this review is based on that haha. (We weren’t tourists at all haha).
FIND PICKLES: There’s a flyer located in the front of the store labeled with «Can you find Pickles the Co-​Op Kitten?» It was a fun 10 – 15 minutes trying to find the (fake) kitten. Something fun to do if you’re in the area. Definitely decently hidden haha.

When we first moved to Portland 10 years ago this co op was our go to grocer– it still is. Like any store it has its imperfections but the service, selection and presence improves every day. Not everyone who works here is super friendly (mostly shy or very unique), and a couple of folks have hygiene issues but all in all this co op ha done nothing but serve a the community around it. I am so lucky to shop at a non chain, local store that supports local vendors. They also carry items that no other stores do!

I’ve been frequenting health food stores and co-​ops since I was in the womb, and sadly, I likely won’t return here. I generally don’t believe in giving harsh Unilocal reviews, unless it’s absolutely merited, because I know it is hard to run a small business. However, it seems this place is regularly shooting itself in the foot.
I noted an instantly chilly reception walking in here. Could see the employees actively giving me the once over, a la middle school. I’m pretty average looking/​dressing, though evidently not for Alberta Street’s nonconformists-​confirming-​to-​nonconformity aesthetic. Not everyone chooses to wear their politics on their sleeve, or as a sleeve, as it were.
From reading other customer reviews, it seems like this must be something in their employee manual. You don’t even have to smile or greet me a-​la Walmart (scary), or some other saccharin coated phony hospitality bull. But honestly, I felt like I was walking down a hallway the first day at a new high school. No, scratch that, middle school. Instead of acting like a two-​bit rock star, I prefer politeness and common decency as a baseline, generally.
The prices also seemed high for the quality, at least in terms of the produce, and I didn’t think their overall selection was that amazing for the size of the space. Look, I’m used to paying more for local and organic, but it often seemed out of line with what was on offer. Maybe the vegetables are dying quickly because they sense the unwelcoming atmosphere and it makes them instantly sad. Or maybe they appear to be dying because they are, as they don’t turn over quickly enough because the place feels so unwelcoming.

I’ve been in this store probably three times over the course of seven years, and every time I’ve been there, I remember and reaffirm why I never want to go there again. I feel like everyone there hates me. I’ve seen employees look at me with utter disdain and absolute loathing. Last time I walked in, I happened to see a store employee, to whom I unwittingly smiled in a friendly-​greeting way, and was met with a look of total disgust. Like, not a single word spoken, barely walked in, and I’m getting a stern look of disapproval, as though I’d just walked in with a confederate flag sleeveless t-​shirt blasting Nugent out of a shitty CD boombox.
Then I get to the produce and see a single green bell pepper for $ 3.49, which provides an example of how steep the mark up is in the produce and throughout the store. I understand it’s a cooperative, and many things are local and organic, and as such, prices can be expected to be higher, but nearly $ 4 for a single bell pepper is just ridiculous. Like, c’mon. Why should I be expected to act like that’s okay? Why do so many people act like that’s okay?
Well, if you can afford it, I’m sure it satiates your urge towards conspicuous consumption, but you can’t front like you’re about the community when you charge exorbitant prices and maintain a culture of elitism and exclusiveness within your organization. I hesitate to use the phrase classism because it sounds a bit too deliberate, but in effect, that’s what the Alberta Cooperative contributes to and represents.
Alberta Cooperative is a bad vibe.

Alberta Street’s answer to Trader Joe’s is a totally a-​ok local, organic, pricey, and small store for anyone in the neighborhood. The space may be small, but they cram a lot of stuff into Alberta Cooperative Grocery, so, you should be able to find at least one of organic thing you’re needing.
Olivia Z. and me stopped in to get a few veggies and some of the self-​serve dry goods/​snacks. Several of the items truly did seem to be from Oregon, California, and Washington, so, it’s great to see them living up to their locally-​sourced goals.
No place on Alberta has much parking, so, having some spots helps. The one hindrance to me being a regular was the prices. The old adage, «You get what you pay for.» is true … especially if you want local and organic food in Portland at Alberta Co-​op Grocery.

Portland needs more co-​op grocery stores! This one is a gem with great staff, terrific member perks, and fun local extras like skin care, candles, and chocolate. I usually am surprised how inexpensive my groceries end up being, which is not something I would expect from a small co-​op. There are definitely high priced options, but lots of cheap local products as well! They make it really easy to become a member by making a small semi annual payment for 6 years. And great newsletters with recipes, specials, and seasonal ingredients! I’m a huge fan. Only downside is the lack of parking, and when I walk/​bike I can’t buy too much or I won’t be able to carry it home.

I love Alberta Co-​Op and shop there regularly. It’s tiny so can’t stock everything you might need, but they pack a LOT of stuff into a small space. It’s a great resource for organic, local, and ethically sourced food items. I might devote the precious space to different things that are of more interest to me, but I’m sure everyone has an opinion about that. Staff and most other customers are laid back and friendly.
Be careful when buying produce. Sometimes there’s only one source of organic, and it’s not always cheap. Adjust quantities accordingly.
Nice bike racks and parking lot on the side. Two bus stops right outside. Many food carts right outside too — heck, it’s Alberta, isn’t it.

I love, love, love this co-​op! Spectacular finds and more often than not, way better deals than any specialty foods market. Keep up the awesome work, Alberta St.

After my initial visit I thought this place was going to be my new local market. I even considered signing up for coop membership. After a few times though, no thanks. There is one particular employee whos been in there every time, and she is really cold & rude. She even ignored me once when i asked where the maple syrup was (it was underneath her, she was on a ladder restocking) i guess this pissed her off. I got no response and decided to just move on and check out. The people who have rung me up have been pretty nice though. Oh, and their produce selection was way overdue. I felt a few avocados and they were way past their prime. Also, the package of greens i bought was flat out bad, super wilted, and stunk of rotting organic material when i opened it the day after the purchase. My fault for not checking the date, but they need to be more on top of this. They’ve lost me as a potential regular.

I want to like them, I do!
They’re more of a corner store than a grocery store, they’re so small. They’re local and organic to boot.
The staff are really quite rude. No need to bark at me for (maybe overly politely) asking if they had Stumptown cold brew. It might not even be their fault– is Alberta Cooperative Grocery nice to their employees? Are they just miserable?
Selection is small, prices are steep.
So basically what I’m saying is there isn’t a need to go out of your way to shop at this place.

I had not been here in years because my last visit left me with a really bad taste in my mouth, but now I have to say I’m a fan again.
The last time I visited, I remember this little shop being dusty and poorly stocked. I also remember asking if they had vital wheat gluten, and none of the 5 staff members knew what that was. Every time I went, they were out of what I needed.
Well, a friend took me back the other day and I was pleasantly surprised! The bulk section is awesome, boasting gems like bulk coconut oil (in liquid form, which makes it really easy to fill your jar), Earth Balance, Vegenaise, Daiya, interesting types of trail mix, little treats like chocolate coconut haystacks, and even really hard to find stuff like xanthan gum (which you usually only need a little of, not a whole bag). The store is well-​stocked on staples as well, and I was able to find a bunch of items on my list at a good price. They also have semi-​bulk items like 8 blocks of tofu in a pack, or whole sheets of tempeh. They carry a good selection of local items as well.
Some prices are still high, like regular packs of tofu, most of the produce, and vegan specialty items like Field Roast. But a lot of the prices are the same as Whole Foods or even Fred Meyer. The staff was infinitely more helpful than I remembered, and everything was clean and fairly organized (though packed to the gills).
However, I have heard some tales that their workers are not paid as well as at other area co-​ops. I cannot confirm this, but it seems worth mentioning.
I’ll definitely go back, at least for the bulk section. This co-​op is WAY more convenient for those of us in the Northeast than People’s is.

We visit at least twice a month if not more often for the small but more than sufficient selection of mostly local vegan products. The service has been nothing short of swift & kind. As Portland is our favorite city & Alberta is our favorite street, it’s a pleasure to support this business.

It’s small, tiny, packed tight — but overall you will likely find everything you need. There’s a good selection of homeopathic/​natural medicine, teas, produce, all the shelf-​items. If you’re looking for a GIANT selection, this isn’t for you. If you want to support local, then this is for you.
However, it is slightly more expensive than other larger natural stores, but if you live in the area it’s nice to support local.

I had shopped here for years, it’s my «corner store» and local to boot. I have tried really, really hard to like this place and do my duty to support local goods.
After an interaction I had with two employees this afternoon… I’m done supporting this place. The employees act like they’re too good to smile or be kind to people, and true mom and pop style customer service doesn’t exist between the walls of this little store that I would SO love to continue to support.
Hopefully the letter I wrote to the board catches their attention, as I’m sure the $ 200/​month I had been spending there will affect them far more than the single discount of $ 2.40 I would have saved over the issue we were discussing…

This was a great little grocery store, and I thought the produce section was small. I was able to pick up a few local products for cheaper than I have seen else where like the Portland company ketchup and some Laurelhurst condiments as well. While other things seemed to cost a little more.
The bulk section was not too bad. If I lived in the area I would definitely frequent this store as there were hidden treasures. The reason for my visit was the Chinook Book.
I just love these local coops that carry every thing local. So no you won’t have the biggest selection, but you will be supporting our very own.

I have always failed to understand why local equals more expensive. I understand that organic usually means less of a crop, so (despite the lower growing costs) more has to be charged. Fair Trade makes sense as well, as the focus is on giving the grower a fair price for their work. However, why should an apple that was grown 3 miles away, picked, and sent to the store cost more than an apple that was grown in California, shipped to Wisconsin to be preserved, and then shipped to Oregon?
That said, despite the fact that I spend more money here than I would at practically any other grocery store in Portland, I do 99% of my shopping here. The selection of food — gluten free, vegan, vegitarian, and carnivore — rivals any place I have ever been. The staff is always plentiful and more than happy to help. The beer and wine selection is pretty damn fantastic. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s only a 5 block walk from my house.
I’m a member because I support non-​corporate owned places, not because of the whopping 2% I receive.

This is the closest Coop to my house and I dig it!
Great selection of Bulk, Beer, Wine & plenty of Fair Trade goodness .
Check it out! :)