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Commodities Natural Market
Rating Details »
Category: Health Markets
Neighborhood: East Village165 1st Ave
(between 10th St & 11th St)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 260-2600
- Nearest Transit:
-
1st Ave-14th St (L)
Astor Place (6)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun. 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Garage
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
19 reviews for Commodities Natural Market
This is truly a gem of a store. I highly recommend it as a friendly and well-stocked LOCAL organic and natural foods market to anyone who might be in the area.
When we lived in L.I.C, we took the train to 14th Street and walked to the store so that we could do our shopping there. They have an excellent selection of fresh organic produce daily, priced very reasonably. On some days things like tomatoes might be fresher than on others, and it's rather a roulette, but the overall quality of the produce more than makes up for that.
They also have canned and packaged organic foods, breads (though not very many varieties), and a small bulk section with nuts, beans, granolas and dried fruits. Their dairy section is very satisfactory, and they carry a wide range of yogurts (including my favorite, Seven Stars), eggs and milk. The cheese section is rather small, but they have raw Organic Valley cheeses and some tasty varietals. They have a large-ish vitamins and herbal supplements section in the back of the store, for those interested in that sort of thing. The store also carries some stock from local producers, which is really great in terms of supporting local agriculture.
After an extensive price comparison with Whole Foods, the Commodities prices were either lower or higher by a only very small amount. The "Just _____" juices were a little overpriced, and if you want to buy meat of any kind, Commodities is not the place to go. Bottled Kombucha was also high, maybe 50 cents more than at the WF. Overall, however, their prices were very much in keeping with what one would pay for organics anywhere else, and supporting a local and community business made it easy to pay the extra few cents where (rarely) necessary.
The store can be rather cramped, as the aisles are narrow and strangely laid out, and it's often full of slow-moving people, so bring your patience for such things. The employees are very friendly and helpful.
Overall, yay for this place!
I shop here about twice a week and must say that I am impressed by their variety of produce and natural products, some of which are hard to come by even in Whole Foods. The prices can be a bit steep, especially for the delicious produce, all of which is organic.
The real downside is that the managers and the owners are extremely foul-mouthed and tempermental. Quite a paradox because they make it clear that they could care less about their customers' health, while they run an otherwise lovely natural market. Money and the lucrative market appear be their sole motives. While most of the employees are friendly and courteous, one or two seem downright miserable and I have allowed people to cut before me in line to avoid certain cashiers.
If only the market were sold... to some genuinely good individual(s) -then I could certainly give it a 5.
I love this store. The prices are great for the quality of the items... many staples such as grains and soy milk are less expensive than anywhere else. The produce can be pricey, depending on the season, but that is to be expected when you buy organic produce. The produce at Whole Foods is confused, many times conventional items mixed in with the organic, and yes it can be cheaper, but that's because you are eating chemicals with your lettuce. Also the Trader Joe's mentions- people please- you get what you pay for, substandard quality with cheap prices. Especially with the meat at Trader Joe's. Go to Commodities and get the fresh beef from Hardwick, you'll thank me later. It's never been frozen- the meat is shipped fresh and is no more than about 48 hours from butcher to the store. It doesn't get better than that, the meat is so good.
Mentions about the cashiers- yeah if you act stupid or rude they'll call you out on it. But I like that about a store, its real. I don't expect to have my hand held while I shop.
So if you want to support a small family run business that strives to bring you high quality organic and local food items then shop at Commodities.
This place rules. You can always be sure to get a fair price, and have someone ask you if you need help.
I come here for specialty items, and Kombucha once or twice a week minimum. The cashiers are all little dears, each and every one. So nice!
Don't even buy a bottle of water across the street, they're twice as much!
Plus you can stay away from those over priced vitamin pushers, get what you need, and not pay an arm and a leg. I'd bet (although, I'm not sure) that nearly everything here is a little cheaper than you can find it everywhere else. It is for what I buy at least. :)
$5 for a tiny head of organic cauliflower. I'm not a big fan of the stuff, but that gives you an idea of what you'll pay here.
Lot's of organic and gluten-free products. There are also some bins where you can buy in bulk. I'll use this place to pick up some bulk popcorn, cereal, juice, and odd items on the way home from work. Probably not wise to use this place as your main go to store.
I have to second Carl S on this one, I know everybody is trying to make a living but the veggies and produce prices border on the ridiculous even for NYC standards. That said, the bulk areas (nuts, oats, granola) are good deals with a better selection than most in the area. So it is worth it for various items.
The kicker that really should knock this place down another star (i am torn between 2 or 3 stars) is the staff. Ive been here enough times over the years and while the staff are not overtly rude but I have never even got so much as a thank you. I m not knocking Leo M, but I am amazed that he had such nice things to say about the cashiers. I need to go when he goes:)
Trader Joes is cheaper, but this is a good place to go if you don't want to deal with long lines. Some things at this place are cheaper than Whole Foods, while others are not. Clif Bars and cereal are more expensive, but Organic Valley milk, my favorite Libertine yogurt, and local sushi are cheaper. I aways check the expiration dates on anything I buy from here- I've definitely found expired stock on the shelves. I like that their bags are made from recyclable plastic. And even though they are tiny, they accept Amex, another plus. I don't see many people in the store, which makes me wonder how they stay in business considering their reasonable prices. I hope they don't go out of business!
This is The place to go if you're knocked up. Seriously, trying to shop here amidst the bellies, strollers and rugrats was like an obstacle course. It's great though, if I lived nearby (even tho I'm sure my womb is barren) I would shop here all the time.
One of the only places I was able to find Kombucha, and you know you need that after a week of binging in NY.
They have a nice selection. I like the homeopathic pharmacy that they have in the back.
I dig this place, but it's a too expensive. I like to support the local/small guy, but when Whole Foods sells the cereal that I like for $2.50 and Commodities sells it for $4.00 I find it difficult.
I only really use it if I'm in a hurry.
__________
Very good natural and organic grocery. They have everything I need in a grocery store.The only negative is that the bread selection isn't great.
I absolutely love Commodities. It's a small, family run grocery with a terrific selection of organic and natural foods (terrific for its size--it's a smallish space, but perfectly adequate for day-to-day shopping). They have some hard-to-find brands (e.g., Seven Stars Farm yogurt).
The people are extremely friendly and helpful.
It's a delightful alternative to the corporate food chain.
Prices are about on par with Whole Foods.
i guess rationally speaking this is more of a 3-star place, but i've been going to commodities for years (before trader joe's & whole foods were in the area) & i guess i'm kinda sentimental or something. i prefer supporting small neighborhood businesses. it's also a lot closer to me than union square, so i don't have to deal with the ever-growing hordes in that area.
i agree that the produce is insanely priced however, & sometimes it doesn't look so hot. also, one time i bought silk creamer here and when i got home it was the consistency of yogurt. i took it back and they promptly refunded me which was nice. they said something must have been wrong with the shipment. but, thinking it was a fluke, i went back about 1-2 weeks later & bought it again, & it was STILL the same weird consistency! they took it back again, but i thought that was.. odd... it never happened again after that -- it just seemed like they left that bad shipment on the shelf all that time?!
also, i agree the cashiers aren't overly pleasant, but that's not what i'm really looking at when i'm buying groceries. the prices on their non-produce items are pretty standard for NY i feel. i guess i could save a little by walking over to union square but to me the extra $ is worth not having to. they also have some really good sales. also, they stock uncle eddie's vegan cookies, which are from god (i'm not even vegan), & i've never seen them in another store in the area.
My favorite destination the East Village! Makes it easy being healthy and providing 100% organic food for our family.
I get that organic food costs a little more but Commodities is FAR cheaper than any other health food store so stop your yapping! I seriously get 99.9% of my fam's food, vits and cleaning supplies from here. The vitamin chicks know their stuff.
Support yer local businesses or quit whining about all the banks and nail salons.
Maybe I just went on a bad day. Nice selection of produce, but the apples were all in terrible shape, and it took me forever to find salvageable ones. Pricey too, but that's to be expected. Eh, stick to Trader Joe's for non-produce, since they are notoriously on the short end of the stick for that.
I can't believe this place exists. With lower prices than Trader Joes and much better and much more options than Whole Foods, how does this business operate? I don't really care, because I love it! Since finding Commodities just a week ago I've been there about three times. Its even worth the trip in to Manhattan as the prices beat the local places (the places around me in South Slope have $5 soy milk!).
I come here to escape from Whole Food Market crowds!!!!
this place is right around the block from my apt which is nice. that being said, they don't have everything i need and they are often out of stuff i want during the later hours of the evening.
last night i wanted fat free greek yogurt and fat free cottage cheese - they had full fat greek yogurt and no cottage cheese in sight. how annoying.
eggs here are super expensive
$4+ dollars for eggs - um..i don't think so.
since everythings organic, the produce is $$$$ too! trader joe's is cheaper for sure.
they have a vast variety of granola which was cool and also have different organic crackers and breads, but i don't like coming here unless i need something really fast and trader joes is closed.
Nice little market. Their selection of healthy products and natural foods is great, from the produce to dairy to beverages etc... The prices aren't exactly very cheap, but they're still reasonable compared to Whole Foods for instance.
A small grocery store that specializes in natural foods. As a vegetarian, this is a great place for me to shop for day-to-day organic foods and drinks like milk, oatmeal, and yogurt. They don't have the quantity of items that Whole Foods has, but you won't be standing in the checkout line as long.
