Bethesda Co-op

Its been a wonderful experience working at the co-​op. The staff are kind and helpful. They have a growing wine and beer section, fabulous bulk foods and spice section for those times you only need a little bit and the best produce on the planet. Thank you for everything. It’s been a pleasure working here
and I wish you all the best. Shop locally! Small businesses rock! :-)

Unfortunately I live about a 15 minute drive from a Giant or Safeway but a 5 minute walk from the co-​op. The reason I say this is prices, there are certain times I may want to go to the co-​op– they have great (organic) produce and a wide selection of nuts and grains. But I come here for more when I only have one or two things I need, it’s much easier than getting in the car for a 30 minute round trip ride. I recently purchased green cabbage– over a week ago and finished it off today, it was still good and fresh. However, the head of cabbage was over $ 6.
My dad loves to get trail mix ingredients here, they have cashews (roasted and raw), almonds (seasoned as well), you know what I’m not gonna name them all pretty much think of a nut and they have it. They also have dried fruit (again wide selection but to name a few– dates, pineapple, mango). And one time I needed mung beans– they got em! Ice cream, frozen meals, frozen veggies and berries, soaps, supplements, prepared food, canned goods– this place has many things a traditional grocery store has, but not the name brands you may know. They carry a lot of organic food brands– this is a fun place to try new things– I needed tortillas and ended up with rice flour tortillas.
The service is nice a few short conveyer belt lines and a bell to ring when no one is at the register (as a kid I didn’t care if someone was at the register I was ringing that bell!) The lines don’t get too long and it never moves too slow. This is a great gem in our community– just beware that the organic part makes the prices rise.

I like the idea of a neighborhood grocery store but neither the selection nor the customer service warrant the Bethesda Coop’s pricing. I had resigned myself to make the occasional small purchase here but after paying $ 5.49 for a quart of milk I doubt that I will return. 4 stars for location, 3 for selection, 2 for customer service and 1 for price.

I’ve been trying to become an increasingly responsible consumer and I once heard someone suggest that Co-Op’s are a comparatively ethical way to buy grocery food. I’ve been rotating with organic grocery stores and farmers markets but I went to this co-​op today and they seemed befuddled when I asked them about their white lentils no longer being in stock (they seemed defensive when I remarked that it must have been replaced with another item.) I was also disappointed because they didn’t have any fresh local spinach in their produce section, which is why I returned to shop there from my first visit. I felt badly because I may have inconvenienced the cashier by over buying because I miscalculated my account balance and had to return several items, but when I returned home I scrutinized my receipt and it shows that I was charged $ 2.40 for one Green Pepper and the receipt reads 0.31lb @ 3.99/lb, which is obviously a error. If I return I will make sure I have more money in my checking account and I will also heavily scrutinize the bill as its being registered.

I go there because it’s conveniently close to home, It’s expensive, but they have many items that I use.

They definitely don’t make them like this anymore. Is it pricey at first? Yes, but just join the co-​op and you’ll be in great hands. They definitely stock a great selection and carry local items as well. A place that’s out of the way for me but I would definitely frequent if I lived in the area. I also like the fact that I’m always greeted with a smile here.

I wanted to love this place since it’s walking distance from us, but I’ve come across too many expired dates and bad products. It’s great for some things (frozen products, beer, spices, non-​perishables), but I tend to make the drive to Whole Foods for the rest.
Customer service is always wonderful.

It’s pretty expensive and out of the way. If you’re in the neighborhood, becoming a member for discounts is probably worthwhile. Their bulk and gluten free sections are substantial and they have a lot of produce for a natural food store (an ironic statement, I realize, but they tend not to do much in this regard). They’re vegetarian friendly enough that they have a special note explaining that the chicken salad isn’t vegetarian (presumably because there are so many vegetarian items are next to it people assumed it was fake meat).
It’s nice that they’re here, but MOM’s and Roots have surpassed them in price and selection.

Will have to preface this comment by saying that it’s been about 23 years since I’ve been to Bethesda co-​op. I use to go here all the time with my mom, dad, and siblings about 23 years ago. I vaguely remember that my mom even used to work there for a while — but she passed away from Cancer around then as well.
Bethesda Co-​Op was one of the DC area’s first natural foods grocery stores, and it was always an exciting place to get nurturing, nourishing food — long before organic became trendy, and many years before Fresh Fields (later Whole Foods). It was wholesome, friendly, and different.
I went here for the first time since I was a kid, and was pretty sad to see some of the product selection — Coke, Sprite, Diet Coke, Diet Sprite, and tons of brands that include GMO ingredients and highly processed foods.
The store was packed and cramped — and would have been easier to navigate if they truly kept their product selection to natural and wholesome foods, and uncluttered from the junk.
The staff wasn’t friendly, and everyone seemed like they were in a bad mood.
Through family deaths, moving, and a number of circumstances, I don’t know what happened to Bethesda co-​op — I’m not sure who manages the store and makes the decisions. But it’s not the healthful, charming, friendly place it used to be. I don’t foresee myself going back.

I like the idea of neighborhood organic market. I don’t like the idea of paying 25−30% price premium over Whole Foods. And I definitely don’t like the idea of opening the package at home and 25% of the time receiving a stale or otherwise expired item, like today Tofu smelling worse than baby’s used diaper, while expiration date still being 1 day away. Thanks, but, no, thanks.

Pretty run of the mill co-​op. Fairly limited selection, although the bulk section is decent. What really annoys me however, is that a supposed natural foods store that touts its green image doesn’t bother to install a bike rack anywhere. I guess suburbanites get some sort of karma boost by driving their ginormous SUVs to a co-​op?

A fabulous store — different. There is local produce and some organic produce — some of it is not always very fresh looking but some of it is and the basics are there. there is a frozen food area — lots of organic and alternative diet products — cereals, dairy, bulk items, cheeses, coffee, supplements, and an area with items such as recycled wrapping paper, fair trade clothes, flowers etc. Also kitchen utensils. Lots of wine bottles. The building is very nice, clean, modern, attractive. Staff is courteous.

So I just stopped in for something caffeinated but I found so many things I wanted to snatch up! I first toured through the produce section — everything looked fresh and tasty (I believe most things are organic & local-​ish too). They had purple bell peppers from PA — I’ve never even heard of those!
Next was the bulk food section. Way more offerings than Whole Foods. Ended up getting several kinds of nuts (tasted super fresh) and some peanut butter-​chocolate malt balls which are harder to find than a cab at closing time.
I really wanted to buy some of their bread. They have lots of artisan breads as well as bins with bagels and croissants. The croissants were some of the best looking I’ve ever seen — no joke!
They also have cheese, freezer aisle, etc., etc. Also scattered throughout the store are 6-​packs and large individual bottles of microbrew and Belgian beer. The wine lives mostly up front.
Lots of selection. Lots of good things. Only downside is that it is rather expensive. I guess there’s always a catch…

They have wrapping paper but not tape. Welcome to the world of random items shopping. The people there are all very nice and helpful. It’s just hard to figure out what they sell there.

Great selection — for the store size. Helpful staff. Very expensive. In my vocabulary, co-​op (at least for members) means a cheaper source of goods. Unfortunately, when compared to *any* other organic store within 20 miles, they are the most expensive. Sometimes, nearly twice the cost. Just to finish on a better note, they do carry a decent selection of wine & beer.

Nice natural grocery store!

Sells an interesting mix of practically every health food imaginable — large selection of nuts and wines, a pre-​prepared foods section for a quick lunch, some nice pies. Good organic fresh fruits and vegetables… and there’s always a cute table or two of interesting chocolates or finger puppets or beautiful sweaters as you walk in.

Such a great little spot. A bit TOO far away, but so worth it.
Not a viable place for me to get produce due to the prices (unfortunately) but there is no better bulk section in town! I am a fan of bulk spices and you just can’t find those anywhere… Bethesda Co-​Op has just what the doctor ordered!
I am listing the prices as moderate, because honestly all I care about is the bulk section. And those prices are great!

I haven’t been here in ages, but it seems like it has gotten way more expensive than any other eco-​friendly store I shop at. Corn was $ 0.89 an ear. Just two days prior I bought a locally grown ear from a road side stand just down the street for $ 0.50. I can’t give them less than three stars though, for being supporters of local, organic and fair trade products.
I wasn’t really looking for anything in particular, but with prices like these, I am sorry to say that I’ll stick to MOM’s and the Silver Spring Co-​op a block from my place.

I pretty much agree with the other reviewers although Mark K said it best. It’s not the store it used to be, thanks to Whole Foods which swiped much of the co-op’s market so now it is more of a store with a split personality trying to do several things: neighborhood convenience, health food, fresh food. It doesn’t do any of these really well but it’s good enough to survive. And that’s impressive in this high-​rent district. So I forgive all its shortcomings.