Our mission-driven history.

The Co-op was made by you… our community! We have a 54-year long history that all got started in the 70’s when a small group of people worked together to gain better access to fresh, whole, natural foods.

Watch Locally Grown!

The story of the Co-op as told by founders, farmers and workers. Captured on film by award winning local filmmaker John Paget!

Watch Community!

Meet 50 owners from fifty years in our 50th anniversary film by John Paget.

Co-op Milestones

Click on the plus signs to learn more!

  • Co-op opens as a retail store with the motto Food for People, Not for Profit. All work is done by member-owners. All decisions are made by member-owners at monthly meetings. Financing is provided to start Lexington, North Buffalo and Allentown Co-ops by the UB Student Activity fee.

  • Co-op hires first paid staff to coordinate member workers. These “Coordinators” report to the membership.

  • Co-op moves from 226 Lexington to 810 Elmwood Ave. Moves back to Lexington 2 years later.

  • Member-owners lend $40,000 to finance a remodel of the store at 230 Lexington. In the Tuna Wars of ’83, member-owners spend a year debating whether the co-op should carry tuna.

  • Co-op restructures to become a representative democracy with a one-time $80 investment and a 15 member Board of Directors. Jenny Bruce hired as the first General Manager.

  • Planning begins for the eventual move to Elmwood with 13 member-owner forums over 2 years. Process results in a vision for a co-op that is on Elmwood with a deli, parking and natural light.

  • Co-op moves to 807 Elmwood on July 27th. Financed with $560,000 in loans from owners, the 2nd largest loan campaign among co-ops nationwide. Sales and member-ownerships double.

  • After 2 years of conversation with owners, Board approves our BIG Direction, the co-op’s long term plan to bring our values to life by fostering a thriving co-op in every community that wants one

  • Co-op opens second store at 1678 Hertel Ave! Financed with $2.1 million in investments from member-owners!

  • Lexington Co-op staff unionize through Workers United

Our Vision

Our board has created a set of “ends” statements that define how the world will be better because of the Co-op’s values and work. These ends describe a community with access to good food, thriving local and co-op economies, and education about nutrition, consumer issues and co-op principles. In conversation with owners and workers, we have developed four main strategies for bringing these values to life:

  • A thriving co-op in every community that wants one, Lexington or otherwise.

  • Supporting sustainable choices by customers, workers, farmers and food producers.

  • Creating fun, rewarding, meaningful experiences for customers, workers, farmers & food producers.

  • Helping to build a strong local food system in partnership with farmers, food producers and local non-profits.

Through our everyday actions, we strive to edge the world closer to our values.  When you buy local and sustainable products at your Co-op, you become a part of that effort!