People's Food Co-op

This counter service restaurant is hidden by the fact that this is also a huge grocery store and you pay at the grocery register. This is the place that exemplifies the Destination Medical Center, where you eat to heal and food tastes amazing. The options are great, a buffet by the pound with delicious and unique hot options, a la carte sandwiches freshly made to order with meat or plant protein patty, vegan meals galore including a giant assortment of salad combinations and super foods. Family friendly laid back environment, health and environmentally conscious, affordable. Will make you feel like you own the place, and yes you can become a member of the co-op. This is the sustainable model that all restaurants should follow.

This is my favorite grocery store in Rochester because of their unique selection of baaically everything! They have seasonal produce, as well as the basics. Everything is always fresh. Theres a wide selection of vegan items at reasonable prices. I especially like getting my loose leaf tea there! You can ask for tea in bulk and they get it for you from the back. I also love that you can have lunch there and it's an entirely separate area from the grocery. Love it!

This is a very true and honest review of this store and its associates with whom I have had an interaction with following a severe traumatic episode I had yesterday in their Rochester DT store.

One of the front store manager associates (I am not here to disclose names) walked over to me and swore “What is f..ing wrong?” when I was back in the store and at the registry because of erroneously being charged for the purchase I have made 10 minutes prior.

She was so mad at me and broke all the social distancing requirements and I was almost nose to nose with her had I not stepped back and asked her “Please do not come too close.”

I continued that I was going to make a complaint of all things I have experienced with her and she went “Go right ahead.” She then walked away.

I was almost in shock and I have never lived something like this before. I am 46, male and someone who is not without an accent. In anyways, I found this was unacceptable and brutal. I even thought that I should have called the cops for such a misconduct after I left the store in a rush.

In-store cameras should be there, and I will also consider sharing this experience at a legal level as well and get an opinion.

The other store associate where I was in line with during this second visit was quite honest in answering that she heard the swear and I thanked her for her honesty. A lot of times people are either scared or are dishonest in disclosing the truth but she was very straightforward and was apologetic.

I sat down and filed an online complaint as soon as I went home.

The other day (today), I was in touch with the store owner and/or managing partner through e-mail and then over the phone, upon my request.

She told me that no one actually heard the swear and that she was sorry because of the tension that was lived the prior evening. She went on to say that only the “Go right ahead.” part was heard by the other store associate and not the swear. So, now, I am positioned in a situation where I am lying with the empower of the majority (two) of people saying there were no swears.

I should have checked the area immediately to see if others were around but as far as I can tell and with the shock I was in, I was the only other client.

In reality, what happened was they tried to contain this issue within themselves and played “I did not see, hear and said.”

I am unable to think and/or judge more of how this was handled within.

A transparent business should have owned the issue professionally and addressed it differently.

I have always been a supporter of the difference between being sorry and being apologetic as they are not the same and these people were unfortunately, only (professionally) sorry of the situation. To me, that is a good clue to the values owned.

This is a very very limited summary of what I have to tell with this experience of mine. If I had to write down the experience during my first transaction earlier in the day, then this would be a very long review.

I encourage anybody who shop here be absolutely very careful of this one associate who normally supervises the store front and sometimes the registry.

Quite frankly, I find most employees in this store borderline in their level of professionalism and approach to customers with the exception of a handful of them. As I have said, some are really super nice almost like a good friend of mine.

Because of how this has been handled, I have lost trust and confidence in the upper management of this Co-op company too.

I and the managing partner of this Co-op came to an agreement over the phone to a certain extent a few hours ago as to how my next trip to their store would be like, but upon revisiting and re-considering everything from the beginning, I now feel like I have a social responsibility of warning other shoppers here as to what their experience may be like especially with some of the associates plus the values of this “neighborhood” grocery store which I find far from this mission, especially in the sense of being courteous, friendly but still professional.

Great place for all natural! Huge selection of everything from fresh produce to gifts.

I love this place and do nearly all my grocery shopping there. My produce from the co-op lasts longer than from other stores. Their meat and deli selection is great, especially if you are looking for meat that's not from a CAFO and/or is locally raised. They also have an excellent bulk selection of grains, spices, coffee, and some liquids like olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

This place has progressively gone downhill. The prices do not match the quality of the products sold here. Not to mention, nobody here has good customer service. The only friendly cashier I encountered had long red hair and a pink COVID 19 mask. I never see her anymore. I don’t recommend this place.

Only health food store I found in town; maybe that's why their prices are on the high side? Decent selection on packaged foods. Nice health/beauty section, and I picked out a great purse. Unimpressed with hot bar and deli foods. Sub-par cheese selection.
It's a small co-op, so I'll cut it some slack, but I think the manager would benefit from spending some time walking through other, better, health food stores.

My favorite place in Rochester. It's got it all. Great produce. Local, Gluten free, vegan, or organic options (but also great bread, meat and dairy). Hot bar for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as salad bar. Good pastries, coffee and deli. Free WiFi and tons of places to sit and eat / study (with outlets). Decent outdoor seating, stone benches with shade umbrellas. Prices are a little higher than chain stores, but well worth it. Also, lots of stuff always on sale, so if you're flexible with what you're looking for you can get out on the cheap.

Almost always has the organic foods I need. Helpful staff IF I ask for something. Still no reciprocity for other co-op members. Will not accept American Express. Usually has a good food bar for lunch and dinner. Excellent parking.

I just can't believe how welcoming and comfortable reassuring knowing that we have lots of organic and natural foods available in the local growers and livestock have a distribution outlet