New Co-Op Grocery Store Opening Next Month In McHenry County

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — McHenry County will get its first ever co-op grocery store when Food Shed Co-op opens in May in Woodstock.

The long-awaited store will open at 9 a.m. on May 15 at 2390 Lake Shore Drive, and there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony, giveaways and deals. Following opening day, the store will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day.

“Our Food Shed Co-op family will celebrate on the opening day," said Peter Waldmann, general manager of Food Shed Co-op. “The community organizing started in 2014. The countless efforts over the last decade are humbling and inspiring to all of our associates. Food Shed Co-op staff, board, and business partners are working hard to meet our timelines. I thank them for their efforts."

Produce will be the co-op’s main focus but the store will also have a grab & go deli, offering items made in-house, and juice bar selections made with fresh, local ingredients. Other categories include frozen, dairy, meat, cheese, bakery, bulk, wine, beer and a wide selection of vegan and gluten-free choices. The store will carry many items in each category sourced from local growers and producers.

The community-owned grocery store broke ground to build on their Woodstock property last July. Since its inception, the number of individuals purchasing equity shares in the co-op has soared to over 2,100.

“These people were the visionaries that started a movement and KNEW it was going to succeed,"said board president Rusty Foszcz.

Supporters who invested in equity shares from the start of the co-op until store opening brought the co-op to fruition, but you do not need to be an owner to shop at the store. The store is open to everyone, and there are no restrictions on who can enjoy the co-op’s unique offerings.

The Food Shed Co-op prioritizes local suppliers whenever possible, according to the news release.