Common Ground Food Co-op

This is my first time visiting this store and I'm highly impressed. Store is clean, and it has a very calm feeling inside the store and smells amazing.

Lots of items to buy, stuff I have never heard of before and stuff I have seen online but never in the store till now.

Lots of room for parking. Definitely will be coming back soon.

An organic market, price is kinda higher than the regular market.
Tofu here are good. Coffee is good too. You can mix different types of coffee together, and grind them.
It's kinda small, and location is a bit far away from both Champaign and campus.

This is a wonderful local co op grocery store and deli. They have a broad selection of organic and natural products. Their inventory includes cleaning and personal care products in addition to groceries. They also have fresh bakery and deli products and a lunch counter that serves hot food. There is a microwave on site to warm up deli items if desired.

This seems to be sort of a store for the more upper class kind of shopper. Inventory is definitely pricey especially certain items but as someone who has a basic understanding of free market economics / Austrian economics I can't knock them too hard for that. I can't expect them to get inventory at the same prices as Walmart does for example.. they also have a few "speciality items" that you may niot find elsehere at a brick and mortor store. and of course we want them to be profitable so they can stick around and serve the community. If you visit this store you might find some items you like. They have a nice selection of spices, herbs, and teas and their supplier of these products specifically is very consistent and good quality. However don't expect the employees to treat you exceptionally well as the people they seem to hire are not very personable or happy to help. Don't take it personal it seems to be more of a personality trait of the folks they like to hire. The employees also tend to be very difficult to communicate with -- reason being because they are extremely soft spoken and along with not speaking up, speaking clearly and precisely they're still wearing their surgeons masks so it's extremely difficult to hear them or understand what they're saying or read their lips. It's just muffled sound like your speaking to a mumbling teenager with a pillow over their face. But if you're like me and you don't care about your interaction with the employees and the only thing you really care about is the selection and the quality of the products you're seeking then you're gonna love this place. I hope they keep up the good work it's very cool what they've created and they seem to be successful. They're basically the "anchor store" of the Lincoln square mall. Like Michael Scott I would give this place an A++. I'm really happy to see they have stayed strong even through all the economic turmoil we have endured over the last 4 years. They are a staple in the community of Urbana. 💙

This place offers exceptionally tasty and creative vegan entrees prepared in-house. There's always something new to try, but my favorites remain in regular rotation.

Vegan Thai green curry with mock duck, fresh veggies and jasmine rice? Yes, please!

Jerk seitan with coconut rice? I'll have that too!

I also recommend the spaghetti and "wheatballs", Persian hummus, blackened tofu salad and chickpea salad (both great on a sandwich roll or in a wrap), and dairy-free rice pudding with just a touch of orange zest. Exquisite.

I also come here for produce, and lately I've been enjoying the wide variety of fresh stonefruit like plums, apricots and nectarines. And in the autumn months, you can get fresh pawpaw!

Add a bag of dry-roasted cashews and some ground coffee, and I'm set for the week.

The chefs and clerks who work here are obviously magicians as well. Well done!

My favorite thing about Common Ground is the stuff they make fresh there. I tried a bunch of different foods for the Champaign Vegan Chef Challenge and Common Ground was my favorite place. Their strawberry lemonade cake, hummus, and vegan chocolate chip cookies are fantastic.

Great little store. Produce section was full of great food at good prices. Lots of fair trade, buy in bulk, and refillable products. Deli section has excellent premade meals, plus, there is a sandwich shop. Outdoor patio tables in the shade made a nice place to have some lunch and snacks on our stay.

Update:

All stocked up with Kombuchade!

Local Food Coop in Urbana.
Now selling a locally Made in Illinois Kombucha Brand

Kombuchade!

Love!!!!! Wonderful atmosphere and vibe. Grab and go cooler is usually well stocked alothough sometimes not much of a variety. Would appreciate more gluten free options that are also plant based so I can have the option of warm foods. I do love, the overnight oats, baked tofu, and the tofu bowls. Gluten free vegan desserts would also be a great addition. I used to get your chocolate chip cookies and cashew mac when visiting but since I can no longer have gluten I have to skip. Usually I pack my own food now but love to treat myself to something from the co-op when I have the dietary option to do so. Keep up all the great stuff you do in the community! See you next Friday!

Common Ground is an amazing place to have in our community. I highly recommend becoming an owner for all the fantastic owner deals and the recently introduced Radish Rewards. It's a $60 commitment for lifetime ownership and worth every penny. Even if you're not an owner, the deals and sales they have are worth it for the quality of food you're going to find here. It's honestly fun just to see what you can find!

The staff is always amazing, and knowledgeable about their items. The facility is extremely clean, always smells nice, and is well organized as well as being a comfortable temperature all year round. The local selection of items is very impressive. This is sustainable shopping, done right.

The café has a nice selection of food and drinks, all very good, fairly priced. In addition to this, there is a grab and go area, of ready made items that can be very handy.

I also love that they are so heavily involved in the community, they often have the option to "round up" at the register to benefit different charities, and they showcase local art in the 'porch' area right outside the store.

I am so proud to have this grocery store as a part of my town!

I love shopping at Common Ground Co-op. They have things I cannot get anywhere else.

This is the best place in town for fresh, local produce. When I'm making anything with vegetables or when I need fresh fruit, this is where I go. They also have a fantastic selection of freshly made deli items like sandwiches, burritos, soups, pies and even full meals. Most of the meats are also local. It is a little expensive to shop here but they have a lot of stuff you can't get at any other grocery store and you know you're helping the local economy. The staff is always very pleasant and helpful. They now have a rewards program that makes it a little less expensive. There is plenty of parking and there is an entrance from inside the mall. Their Round Up For Good program also helps the local community. Their bulk foods selection is very good.

Plenty of nice cooking supplies and other things of the type. Some of the freshest vegetables and fruits. Overall the people are very kind and it's a nice place

Love Common Ground! They have everything we ever need. We always go Saturday mornings after the farmer's market. The place is clean, the employees are friendly, and the produce is FRESH. Always recommend. <3

Such a lovely store. Awesome produce (local and organic), nice selection of local meats, and very tasty prepared soups and foods. It has a large bulk food selection including peanut and almond butter grinders. Never experienced freshly made nut butters on demand at a grocery store before. Great resource for healthy cooking and has a nice small part of the shop dedicated to organic less commonly found health and beauty items.

The Co-op has great options for bulk purchases and there is a cafe. The cafe offers sandwiches and I usually grab a slice of pizza while shopping.

Additionally, a lot of products are eco-friendly. There are cool handmade items like soap products. I don’t drink a lot but there is also a large variety of wines.

Overall, I recommend you become a co-op owner so you can support local businesses!

Great food and fresh produce!
Frequent discounts to keep an eye out for.
Save money and materials by bringing your own containers and bags.
Common ingredients are charged by weight.
Freshly ground peanut and almond butter.
Friendly employees.
Great atmosphere.
Best coffee bean selection.
Delicious food and soup for takeout.
Typically more pricey than supermarket chains.
I personally avoid their beer/liqueur.

Great selection of organic, vegan, and gluten free foods. The store is small but has everything you'd need. There are a lot of local produce and brands available and a lot of things you may not find elsewhere. Staff is friendly and energetic. We'll definitely be coming back.

Absolutely amazing! I am kind of obsessed with food and this is probably the coolest grocery store I've ever visited. The selection of truly healthy and local foods was impressively extensive. We live in Bloomington but have decided to make regular trips down to shop here from now on

This co-op has really grown over the years and is really fantastic! It costs $60 to become a member and does support the co-op and you get nice discounts.

They have a great selection of local, organic and gluten free foods.

The breakfast sandwiches are superb and the butternut squash/caramelized onion pizza is a must-have!!!