Linden Hills Co-op

Has it really been over five years since my last review? Well, I'll cut to the chase: this co-op still rocks. I came in here wanting something fermented and found just what I was looking for: spicy kimchi. I was delighted to see that they have a great selection of fish-free kimchis along with the traditional anchovy and shrimp containing kinds. There's even a local brand that looks intriguing (next time).

I also perused the gift section and bought myself a new lunch bag. I admired the gorgeous alpaca items--the hats are fun and they have some of the most gorgeous knots I've ever seen. Don't miss their mittens and gloves: warm, beautiful, and oh-so-functional (you can fold the tops off for extra dexterity!). I also went through the supplements and beauty section and bought some vitamins (I do love my vitamins) and a lip balm. The lip balms here are all really good, and it's easy to find petroleum free if you prefer. All the ones that I looked at were largely plant-based, though many contain beeswax.

Very friendly staff and ample parking make this a great place to grab yourself a treat. (While I wasn't shopping for produce today, I love to go through the produce section. They have an excellent selection of everything, including a wide selection of fresh mushrooms and fresh kale that you can't find in most stores. They also have bulk fresh cranberries! It's a great place to let your culinary imagination run wild (and make your dreams come true if you are so inclined).

Really nice place to shop or stop in for lunch. Their deli options are spectacular including salads, sushi, bakery, soups and more!

Today I stopped in for a few grocery staples and a soup-- delicious!

It's a great place to stop in if you also need to grab a gift for a friend.

Excellent selection, good prices, nice looking produce and lots of grab and go meals and deli items plus the meat section is huge. So much better than the chain grocery stores

Great produce, meat, and seafood selection. Lots of options for vegetarians and vegans. Good prepared foods at food bar, but beware some of the prepared "foods" in plastic containers. My husband purchased something with a very long list of ingredients, some of which I couldn't pronounce. Didn't fit with the natural and organic emphasis of the store. I hope they discontinue these "food" products in the future.

I happened to be out and about running some errands and needed some magnesium. I search to see what co-op I could find between where I was and were I was heading next. This is were I ended up.

If I could have vote to have a standard of what a co-op SHOULD be, THIS PLACE IS IT!!! They had SO many cool things I have never seen at my local co-op, nor many of the other ones I frequent.

They had the bulk sections, the beautiful product, dinning seating area, awesome supplement and personal care, lots of cool baby things...
All that and the cozy co-op feel that I love.

Cozy little store with a great supplement and vitamin section. The baked breads and cookies are really good too. This place is better than Whole Foods.

This is my neighborhood co-op, and I love supporting it. This grocery market is the perfect spot for finding specific items of high quality with a minimal ingredient list-label. For example - I am religious about getting my deli turkey meat from here, it has no added sugar and a moderate amount of salt - plus it is from a local farm! I also love that they offer pure stevia in liquid form without unnecessary additives.

The tea and coffee selection is SO on point here! I can always find my valerian root tea and others, and I notice the freshness and flavor of the coffee beans when making my french press coffee.

The staff here are also always kind and helpful, and this co-op has a nice laid-back neighborhood feel.

My late wife and I joined Linden Hills Co-op in 1978 when we were renting an upper duplex unit in the neighborhood. We used to regularly volunteer at and buy produce and other goods from the funky, friendly, increasingly cramped old location in the heart of the shopping district.

After several moves, the current store was built with a much larger footprint but further West. While one might mourn the loss of a vital institution from the 43rd & Upton hub, the shiny new(er) structure is a huge upgrade and should well serve the community for years to come.

Now under a joint operating agreement with another venerable Minneapolis Co-op, The Wedge, LH offers an enormous variety of organic foods, prepared dishes, bulk items and an assortment of carefully selected goods.

Go, wander the aisles and you're likely to discover things that you may not have known existed before but become essential additions to your home or life.

They always have everything I need! If Trader Joe's doesn't have it, I know my only hope is Linden Hills Co-Op. My only complaint is that the bulk section is a little light. I love to bring my own bags to replenish some of my ingredients, so I do wish they would expand on the bulk section.

The produce is excellent! I can always rely on them to provide the freshest, local produce available. I recently picked up heirloom tomatoes and a couple different types of mushrooms I couldn't find anywhere else. I made the most delicious avocado toast with both the tomatoes and mushrooms. So good!

They make vegetarian and vegan sandwiches that will blow your mind! The po' boy is perfect!

I grew up on Linden Hills Co-op! Absolutely loved it. It was my go-to for everything organic, natural, and local I needed in my life.

But times change. The problem is not that this co-op is necessarily bad, the problem is that I was a Lakewinds shopper for a long time. And this is no Lakewinds. And despite my best efforts, I can't help but made direct comparisons. The selection at Linden Hills is tiny. The produce is disappointing. The prices are higher and the sales are less compelling. The staff is standoffish. The hot bar is uninspired. Nobody EVER asks me for my owner number. The parking lot is a nightmare. I regularly can't find a product I need, and there's either nobody around to help or I find someone and they straight up can't help me.

It's still my co-op, and I still shop there. And I'm incredibly grateful to have so many co-ops in the Twin Cities! But for me, the magic is gone.