Our Co-op History

Green illustrations of a person weeding crops, a burlap sack labeled "Buying Club," and a globe are clustered over a light red oval.

1971

A few like-minded people and families gather to form a buying club. Their goal is to combine their purchasing power to source better food in Vermont.

The Onion River Co-op is incorporated as a Member-owned cooperative and moves to 77 Archibald Street in the Old North End of Burlington.

1973

A green drawing of City Market's Archibald Street location next to a photograph of the same spot. Below, a drawing of a truck with "1973" drawn on the side and a drawing of an onion are clustered over a light red oval.

 

 

A black and white photo of a sign reading "The Co-op is Moving!" sits next to a green drawing of the North Winooski Avenue location of the Onion River Co-op. Above the storefront drawing is a drawing of the sign at the North Winooski location. It has a picture of an onion and reads "Onion River Cooperative." Below the sign there is a drawing of a bicycle. All are clustered over a light red circle.

1990

The Onion River Co-op moves to a new, larger storefront at 274 North Winooski Avenue. During the move, Co-op Members create a 'human chain,' similar to a bucket brigade, to move small items by hand from the old storefront to the new one.

Price Chopper in Downtown Burlington closes, leaving Burlington without a Downtown grocery store. The City solicits bids for a new market to be built on the city-owned site of the old police station. Onion River Co-op and Shaw’s put in competing bids. In 2000, Onion River Co-op wins the bid with a City Council vote of 12-2! As a part of this process, the Co-op commits to adopting Supermarket Principles at our new location, offering conventional as well as organic food in order to meet the needs of Burlington’s diverse Downtown community.

1999

A black and white photo of four people clustered around a table, looking at blueprints. To the left of the photo, there is a drawing of a shopping cart and a drawing of a tall box labeled "Co-op Loops." To the right of the photo, there is a drawing of a glass milk jug.
Two photos of the City Market Downtown Store Opening are clustered over a light red oval. One shows Senator Patrick Leahy speaking from the store's main entrance, the other shows Don Schramm in the same place. To the right of the photos there are two green drawings, one of the City Market Downtown Store, and the other of two adult women and a child carrying groceries.

2002

In February of 2002, City Market, Onion River Co-op opens at 82 South Winooski Avenue. Some of the local farms that opened with us are still in our stores today, including Pomykala Farm, Diggers' Mirth farm, Champlain Orchards and many more!

 

 

The first contract is signed between City Market Management and the newly organized employee union, UE Local 203, setting the stage for over 20 years of productive collective bargaining.

2004

A green drawing of a person stocking a grocery store shelf and a person working as a cashier are clustered over a light red circle.
A photo of three people holding a sign that reads "Age Well - Meals on Wheels for Older Vermonters - $7500" is next to a green drawing of a bee and a green drawing of a greenhouse. All are clustered over a light red circle.

2014

City Market establishes the Rally for Change and Co-op Seedling Grant programs. These programs establish two ongoing funding paths for City Market and its Members and shoppers to help strengthen our local food system. City Market also offers its first round of Farm Loans, helping four different local vendors bring products to market.

City Market’s South End Store opens at 207 Flynn Avenue, allowing the Co-op to serve many South End neighbors and businesses. 

2017

A photo of the City Market South End store with five people in front of it. The people are behind a long red ribbon. To the left of the photo is a green drawing of a stylized landscape of the lake. Below the photo, there is a green drawing of the South End City Market location. To the right of the photo, there is a green drawing of an elderly couple arm in arm walking out of the frame.

 

 

A green rectangle with rounded top and bottom. Inside the rectangle are the words "Celebrating 50 Years of Food with Purpose." The "0" in the 50 is an onion.

2023

City Market celebrates 50 years since it officially incorporated in 1973!