Clintonville Community Market

My dear community market. You are closing, and I will miss you terribly. I no longer live in the Old North Columbus area, but I did for approximately 6 years during and after my college days. After stumbling upon this market, I would shop her once every few months, and would come here first when looking for bulk spices and teas. Unfortunately, I never took the plunge and became a full member.
This place is small. Some items were much more expensive than other markets. BUT– local cheese, eggs, and produce were very competitively priced. They had bulk liquid soap, oils, syrups, granola, grains, flour, and every kind of bean you could think of. They had grab-​and-​go food items hand made in store. And those bulk spices and teas? All flavors of kombucha. Amazing. I always had friendly service, and while it was sometimes kind of annoying to navigate those tiny aisles I always felt welcome.
I know that they ultimately could not compete with other stores moving into the area (such as Lucky’s) and had to close. There will forever be a place in my heart for this Co-​Op. I credit them with opening my eyes to so many new food items, as well as the awesome feeling of supporting local and buying in bulk. Thanks for all of the memories, Clintonville Community Market!

Kind and helpful service, will come back when we visit again. First time coming by since we are out here visiting friends.

I was on my way to a dinner party and was asked to grab some tomatoes. Since this market is super close to my desired destination, and I still hadn’t been to this store — two birds with one stone! I absolutely adore the location of this place! Amongst the traditional homes, out pops a small store front.
The tomatoes here looked fabulous! I perused around the small space, and found they have a little bit of a lot of stuff. Tons of spices and herbs. A good selection of fruits and veggies. Toiletries. Sweets. Seems like all the must-​need necessities to live.

I used to be a member and was reasonably pleased with the selection of goods and the prices, but the staff has ALWAYS been the weak spot here and the service and attitude has actually gotten so poor I refuse to shop here anymore.
However, this is my only CSA pick up spot so I still have to regularly schlep my kids over there in order to be ignored by the staff members sitting around chatting.
If I were still single and had the time to put up with the BS, I probably wouldn’t mind so much because I did really, really like the bulk goods (the only reason I’m bumping from one to two stars) but I don’t have the time or energy, so I refuse to go anymore.
I will add that Emmanuel is always willing to go above and beyond to help!

Definitely an asset to the community. It can be a little intimidating at first, with all the bulk items for sale. Was tough to know where to look for things (I just wanted to grab a snack) I think it will take a few visits to really get comfortable with the layout of the market. The staff has always been incredibly helpful during the couple of visits I have made. I haven’t gotten a membership yet; I don’t think it is really for savings but to donate to the cause. I would have to spend over a grand to break even — sure some stuff is much more expensive than a local chain store, but you typically get what you pay for! Heck, they’ve got 3 different kinds of cinnamon! I didn’t know there were different kinds!

It isn’t often that I crave Black Label, incense, vegan cookies, bulk spices, and carob nuggets all at once, but, if I did, I can’t think of any other place that is less than two blocks from my house that I would rather go.

Great selection of bulk herbs, spices and teas. Friendly, helpful staff.

My new favorite market for a massive selection of loose teas and herbs. I love the variety and they’re not super expensive. They even use biodegradable bags which, as an Earth fan, I love. My homeopathic doctor recommended this place, which is how I found out about it. They are tucked away in the community and, with all-​street-​parking, you get to enjoy a relaxing walk to the door. Love! Love! Love!

Note: I originally created this Unilocal to praise companies that are truly excelling in customer service and overall meeting or going above and beyond consumer expectation.
My experience at the Clintonville community market was so horrid, I had to write a review.
In my quest to support local I ventured to this «community» market today. My first impression: small, dirty, some cool stuff, crazy prices. $ 7.99 for generic lettuce you can get for $ 3 at Kroger? Moving on. I bought some fruit eggs and gluten free bread and kombucha (which I didn’t even get to keep) and all of the produce rang up wrong. The cashier mentioned it to the guy stocking food who I think was also a manger and he snapped at him. The cashier was confused, more snapping/​yelling from manager. At this point it was a full on argument, the cashier was embarrassed and kept saying «sorry you have to witness this it happens every day.» The manager, if that’s who it was, was so rude, angry, and degrading to his employee. It was humiliating for me and the employee. I was almost in tears by the interaction and just wanted to walk out.
In the process the cashier had already cashed me out then realized he forgot to ring the kombucha and added it to my bill without mentioning it, it was all pretty sketchy. I asked him to void the drinks and I left horrified. Not to mention, all of the fruit I got was moldy! About 85%! Disgusting. I cannot see how this place uses community in its name. I will never go back.
Is this the reason large companies will always dominate consumer choices? It sure seems like it. Clintonville community market is a step backwards.

The best part of the store is the huge selection of herbs and spices, they have many obscure items that you couldn’t find anywhere else. They also have a great selection of teas, tinctures, bulk foods and personal care products.
Their spice section is a little awkward to navigate when they get busy but everyone is super friendly so when it gets packed its a great opportunity to connect with a stranger over the lack of space — theres some really interesting people who shop here. They have a laptop available to look up which herbs or spices you want which is a really nice addition. You can get a large amount of product for really really cheap. I walked out with 3 medium bags of herbs, a small bag of cinnamon and french green cosmetic clay for under $ 5 and it’ll last me weeks. They have spices and herbs for pretty much any ailment and I found all the ones I was looking for but one. They have different clays with all their bath and beauty products and the prices are very reasonable.
I also love their selection of tinctures and vitamins. They have a ton to choose from and the prices are reasonable. I am going back today to stock up on more clay and vitamins and have a feeling I’ll be back again for more soon. I was so happy with the price of my herbs I will slowly switch over my entire spice cabinet to their selection as they are organic and very fairly priced.
This is not the place to go to buy a lot of produce or regular grocery store items unless you can spend the money. Most of their produce is local and I recognized a lot of the product from the farmers at the Clintonville Market.
I really enjoyed this store and the people in it, had a wonderful conversation with some of the staff and a few other customers. I wish I lived within walking distance (although probably best for my wallet that I don’t).

For me, CCM rates a solid 3.5 stars, but not quite a four.
They might have been a four back in the day just for their bulk spices alone, but there are other places to get those these days (North Market, the Asian markets, Lucky’s, or Bexley Co-​Op for me since I live closer to it). The bulk section in general is tiny and doesn’t sell all of the stuff I’d want to bulk up on.
They do have some pretty good prices on some items – or, at least, not bad prices. The bulk stuff I did buy was really reasonably-​priced.
I find the layout of the store a bit awkward and claustrophobic; I wanted to look at more of the bulk spice section, but I seem to remember a huge island being right in the middle of the space, making it difficult to browse with other people around. Anytime I wanted to pause and look at something, someone scooted me out of the way so they could look at it – or, stock it. Which always bugs me, because while I know that people working the floor need to stock things, wouldn’t they rather not give me a few minutes to browse so they can make a sale? I’m genuinely puzzled.
While looking at the cold drinks, I had someone just standing next to me, waiting for me to finish up so they could stock the cooler. This did not make shopping a very comfortable experience. I ended up not getting anything from that area.
In the end, the positives don’t outweigh the negatives for me at CCM. I can source a lot of the things they specialize in if I go to different stores or farmers markets where I have a better shopping experience.

The co-​op has a lot of unique offerings that have been covered here, different even from what can be found in lots of larger natural/​health food stores. Some of that is even at a good deal. But honestly, the average person making $ 9/​hr is not going to be able to turn around and do most of their staple shopping here. The cheap options are almost nonexistent – I get it, because it’s local or organic or «better» and that costs more. But I wonder if this co-​op could have more accessible prices if they ran more like an experienced and competent business than a hub of empty feel-​good local community vibes.
Going by the successful co-​ops I’ve seen in other places, by all the claims you will hear from the co-​op and its loyal customers that shopping at the small, local co-​op enriches the community and is better for everyone, you would think that:
1)The Clintonville Community Market pays its employees competitive wages and offers health benefits, because that is the right thing to do and different from what big bad corporations supposedly do
2) the management treats employees with dignity, respect, and fairness because that is the right thing to do – big bad corporations on the other hand are mean greedy monsters!
3) they prioritize running a successful, profitable, and sustainable business ahead of personal agendas, dogmatic practices, and interpersonal conflicts, and do so by employing people who are competent and experienced with retail operations and marketing – because that is the right thing to do in order to be able to provide staff with a better standard of living than big corporations, offer competitively or at least accessibly priced products, and demonstrate fiduciary accountability to members who own the co-​op.
4) based on their claims of local businesses being superior in so many ways, they would be able to demonstrate objective, observable, measurable ways in which they enrich the community, give back to the community, improve standards of living, benefit consumers etc. Because standing behind your broad, vague explanations about why you’re a better, even a more moral/​socially just place to shop by providing specific examples and numbers is the right thing to do if you want to have integrity, that thing that Big Bad Corporations supposedly lack.
But unfortunately, this co-​op does NONE of the above. Employees start out at $ 8 an hour, stagnate on a slow-​moving wage scale with no opportunities for advancement, and since the ACA, are no longer offered health benefits (in a state without a Medicaid expansion). It is expensive. The environment is unprofessional and demoralizing. The surrounding big business chain competitors are beating the pants off them at all this and more. Even Kroger, the biggest grocery chain in the country, gives a ton of money to nonprofits of customers’ choosings.
I literally wouldn’t recommend it to anyone for any reason other than the odd weird ingredient or herb.
Just saying, don’t be fooled by appeals to your conscience to shop at this place. A small local business is only as valuable as it is to the people and communities it positively touches.

The market is just a few streets over from me. You don’t have to be a member to shop here! If you’re a member you get a discount on your purchases.
There has been some changes over the years in regards to how they try to bring more business into the store. A few years ago it was hand made pizzas on Friday nights. At least once a year they have Sharpening On Site come by.
The Crest Fest keeps getting bigger each year.
I try to stop by once a month. The fruit and vegetables look like real fruits and vegetables. They aren’t gigantic in size. The eggs usually have the packed date so you know how fresh they are. Snowville Creamery is usually a little less expensive here compared to other grocery stores.
One thing I like is the apparent transparency. The meeting minutes are publicly posted so everyone (members or not) can see the topics of discussion. They’ve been making improvements (new cooler, new point of sale system) recently and it’s all in the meeting minutes.
If you’re looking to do some local grocery shopping this holiday season (food baskets are always popular) this ine a good place to do it.

I’m quite certain the rest of the reviews on here have this place covered, but I’ll be happy to add my praise as well.
Despite the fact that I do not live in Clintonville, I still make sure to stop at this community market from time to time. They have a great spice and bulk selection. including REAL cinnamon… try finding THAT in a box store. Also, I was amazed they carried wheat grain for making your own flour. (NO WAYZ!)
There’s no frills or pomp and circumstance about this place. It’s just a small community market much like the olden days of your Grandparents only that this place is more catered to the vegan, vegetarian and eco friendly crowds.
See that «Community» in the middle of their name? Well, it’s not for looks, CCM really does care about their community and they LISTEN to them as well. If you follow them on Facebook, then from time to time you will see them asking consensus on what items to carry, or discontinue based on the Product companies ways of business, values… etc. This keeps CCM supporting great sustainable companies, which makes it easier for us the consumer to not worry about all the politics behind Organic companies.
I personally come here for Hartzler’s Milk. It’s freaking delicious and all the way from Wooster. They also refund glass bottles here, which is a MAJOR plus. or as the stoned kid working the front counter… «Yeaaaaah… it’s like… having glass… money…»
Parking is a bit of a drag for us no good out of towners, but that’s the price we’ll have to pay whilst we can only day dream and wish that one of these quaint places will someday appear in our neck of the woods.
Clintonville, you have it made.

I like Co-​Ops.
I imagine that Clintonville Community Market, is what Whole Foods started off as a bagillion years ago. This is a neat, eccentric specialty market that has a really wide range of locally grown, organic, healthy food.
This location has actually housed a market of some sort or another continuously for at least 100 years or so, which is pretty awesome. The wide range of bulk spices, and unique cheeses, soaps, honey, and grains are pretty awesome. They have a pretty limited fresh meat selection but that is okay, I can get meat from other places.
There is a little bit of everything here, that is locally owned, and they have Dr. Bommers Soap, (IN BULK ! !!) which is a positive in my book. I mean how can you not love the stuff
I wouldn’t shop here on a regular basis, and but I do enjoy walking through the isles, talking to the friendly staff, and finding that unique item that I can’t get anywhere else. Plus it is locally owned which is a plus.

Went to this place because a vegetarian friend recommended it highly. I’m not a vegetarian myself, but I’ve been here twice and would go back again.
It immediately gives off a «whole foods» vibe, but it’s different. In a good way. I haven’t found better fresh eggs for the price (about $ 3 a dozen) and their bulk spice section is quite expansive. Lots of different local cheeses and staples (grains, etc.) in bulk. I haven’t tried the peanut/​almond butter grinders yet, but I plan to.
Not a lot of meat, which was okay since I order from the OSU Meat Science program anyway. I was a bit let down by the produce section, but I haven’t been there during the summer yet so we’ll see. Skip the processed aisles near the front unless you have specific dietary needs, in which case CCM is excellent. Lots of vegetarian/​vegan/​GF options.
A membership probably isn’t worth it for a casual consumer like myself who may move to a different city in the next couple of years. However, the people who work there are really nice and don’t take it personally if you decline to join the co-​op.
Oh! And Thursdays are «Student Appreciation Days» (5% off when you show a Student ID).

I am cool enough to know what a co-​op is, but not cool enough to have visited one before. Since the Clintonville Community Market is rather far from my home, I planned a Saturday-​morning visit to see what this co-​op thing is all about.
Upon entering the market, I was struck with how small the place was and how different it was from the supermarkets we have around these parts. I was also concerned about being able to fit my big ass through those tiny aisles without knocking over something expensive, but I managed.
On the positive side, I enjoyed the dairy section, with a decent selection of unique cheeses and eggs. I picked up some very good goat cheddar. I also liked that you could buy things like soap in bulk, which is awesome.
I was not terribly impressed with the produce. There wasn’t a very big selection (I get it, it’s winter) and some of what was there was wrinkly and old. I was also hoping for a larger selection of local meats, but it looks like I’ll just have to wait for the farmers’ markets to open.
Overall, this was a neat place to visit, but I don’t see myself coming back here unless I’m looking for a specific ingredient that I know they carry. Many of the commercially-​made products they sell I can pick up in the organic sections of the supermarket or at a specialty store in my area. For an omnivore and a semi-​conscientious consumer, my neighborhood grocery store is generally sufficient for my food needs, but I can see that if I subscribed to a more rigorous diet ideology, I’d be shopping at a place like this more frequently.

We recently started shopping at here and went ahead and purchased a membership. It has been well worth it for us. We definitely love supporting and buying local and love so much of what this market has to offer. Their produce is great (especially their kale and garlic).
They have ready made items from local businesses that are fantastic. My husband loves the eggless salad from the Wellness Forum and we both love the raw pad thai from Portia’s Creations. They are also the only place near Columbus that carries Sweet and Sara vegan marshmallows and treats. The pb s’mores are phenomenal.
We are vegan and were impressed by how many offerings there were for us. We are usually able to find much of what we have on the list for the week here. Everyone is friendly and we enjoy shopping here.

This isn’t a Giant Eagle so don’t come here if you’re looking to pick up a cartload of groceries. I’m sure some people could do all their shopping here, with a certain kind of diet, but for most of us, that’s just not gonna happen.
But Clintonville Community Market is cool for two reason.
1) Supporting local co-​ops is love. It just is. It’s love for the community and love for people trying to make a community better.
2) Bulk spices. If you’ve never thought about buying loose spices, you’re missing out. Rather than omit or substitute in a recipe that requires some odd spice you don’t already have, you can buy just two tablespoons of it at a time! Very cheap.
Oh, and they’ve got beer. Bonus points, right?

Bryant M. took me to this delightful store when we were preparing for a potluck of nothing but Raw foods. Since that successful trip I have wanted to return and see what other things they have to offer.
Positives:
Spices
Teas
Coffee
Bulk items like nuts and beans
Awesome Beer selection!!!
I am not too big a fan of the produce section, but I will check it out on other days to see if I can find anything fresher!