The Wedge Community Co-op

This place is simply heaven.
People who perhaps take it for granted don’t realize this is a rarity in the US — to have essentially a farmers’ market open all the time, consistently and reliably stocked with real, local, organic food and SO MUCH MORE. Everything — absolutely everything — that a healthy person may need to nourish the body, inside and out, can be found there. Along with some special bells and whistles.
Expensive? PLEASE. The prices are more than fair for what you are getting, and if you become a member of the co-​op, you become a part of its financial organism and as such, a benefactor of its success. Again, this is a rarity in US cities. Treasure it and support it, rather than comparing it to Whole Foods or any other large chain store which exploits the sorry state of affairs in our world.
Their cheese selection is lacking, as well as their seafood. International foods as well. Far better places around for those things, for the connoisseur. But for fresh local organic seasonal produce, dairy, fantastic fermented foods, eggs, etc., as well as a perfect selection of essential oils and the like, this place is IT.

The wedge is alright, they have all the things you would expect a co-​op to have, the bulk section is by far their best feature. The problem I have with the wedge is that recently while I was shopping I ordered a cup of iced coffee. They charged me $ 5.88, which is just completely insane even by co-​op standards, and it was the actual worst cup of coffee I have ever had, I know it was bad because I’m writing a review on Unilocal about it. There is always this feeling that shopping at a co-​op is somehow better than shopping elsewhere, but when I look at the prices they charge, combined with the fact that they don’t pay taxes like normal grocery stores, combined with the fact that they get plenty of volunteer labor, combined with the fact that for 2 years the board voted not to give co-​op members their rebates without asking the co-​op owners themselves how they felt, it just seems like a lot of facts to combine.

The Wedge continues to go downhill. Today I bought a slice of cake that was described as creamy white cake with lemon curd and vanilla. In big numbers it was labeled as fresh for three more days. It looked beautiful, but the cake was horribly dry. So dry, that it was ruined. The cake turned out to have been made two days ago. Why anyone would think a cut up slice of cake would stay fresh for five days is beyond me. The case of was full of numerous types of cake… probably all of them old and stale. The Wedge bakers seem not to comprehend the importance of freshness in baked goods. Normal bakeries only sell baked goods for one day, and then they go half price on the second day. This is a very intelligent way of dealing with highly perishable baked goods. Why is the Wedge so lacking in intelligence? Why do they sell old, stale, horribly dry baked goods for five days? It doesn’t make any sense. They should do what everybody else does and bake a little bit more than they can sell in a day, and then put the rest on half price sale and then restock the shelves with fresh food. Then I would buy it. As is, I am through with buying anything from their untrustworthy bakery.

I’m not very familiar with the grocery part, but I feel I need to say something about the catering department: exceptional. I am consistently so pleased at the professionalism, quality of food, customer service, etc. This is one of the few caterers I work with where I know the food will be delivered on time and in ample quantities, plus it’s a great value. I highly recommend the catering program and look forward to our continued partnership.

The Wedge is remodeling so my review may be dated by the time you read it.
Things I liked about the Wedge.
* Parking was actually a lot easier than I expected (maybe I went here at a weird time).
* The meat case had quite a variety.
* I also liked the baked goods.
* I got my Barbara’s shredded wheat on sale.
Things to work on
* The store seemed a bit cramped, but once the remodeling is done that should be alleviated.
* The produce section seemed a bit small.
Getting to/​from — is actually easy once you can get on the road as they are right by the Lyndale entrance ramp.

ALL the pros outweigh any cons of this place. They are super busy which does make parking annoying. But what do you expect in Uptown? I mean — come on…
They can be pretty expensive, but in all honesty and fairness, their prices are better than or equal to any other places rates for organic, local anything.
I used to frequent The Wedge when I lived in the neighborhood and things were better financially. They have an amazing bakery, vegan options, cheese section, meat section and produce. But what I really wanted to put out there was one experience in particular I had yesterday. I walked in to get a bag of bulk oats for $ 0.89/lb, having a lot of time, but very little money to spend (things have been rough since I had my baby 6 months ago), I was on my way to the food shelf in uptown that doesn’t open until 5:00. But I saw a sign that says they accept Wic checks. I thought-there’s no way they have all the Wic approved items…
But I checked and lo and behold, they had Wic approved eggs, milk, juice, produce — So I got out my checks and started shopping. They had everything I needed, except the one brand of Wic-​approved black beans was out. Having a can of garbanzo beans at home already and a husband to feed who won’t eat any beans at all except black beans, I asked customer service if they had any more in stock. She went to check and got a store manager to come check things out, who helped me find everything else left on my checks while we waited for her to come back. They were totally out of that one kind of beans, but they were so set on getting me helped out they just let me get a different kind and had a cashier override it for me.
THEN — The stupid oats I originally came in for messed up the purchase (Damn WIC for being so damn picky and complicated). The whole time they were trying to figure it out, they were so helpful, patient, kind and not once did I feel judged for using WIC in the first place, which happens all too often. I wish I’d thought to get their names, but they know who they are. I hope they read this.
To the staff at The Wedge — THANK YOU!!!

I love the variety an learning an seeing everything this store has to offer but I’ll tell you wat the staff are very racist I watched a Caucasian lady stuffiing oils in Her pocket but the staff was too busy watching me smh smh an they assume because you are black that you have food stamps it’s a shame on 2016… But love the store for the most part…

It’s getting so expensive to shop here & harder to tell the difference between whole foods. I wish they would do something about the parking lot. It’s treacherous out there. It’s still the closest co-​op to me & I don’t have the energy to form a food buying club anymore so I guess I will have to live with the trends.

The Wedge is my first love of all co-​ops in the Twin Cities and the first one I became a member at. Great selection, a lot of items offered in bulk that aren’t offered in bulk at other locations (hey, if you’re making a recipe with seaweed in it, sometimes committing to a whole package of kombu with the inevitable leftovers is depressing).
These are the guys who set the trends for all other co-​ops; always pushing the envelope and trying new things. Their recent offsite expansion, The Wedge Table, is on my list to check out.
This isn’t a location that an employee is going to check-​up on you while you’re shopping, they tend to keep to their tasks at hand (with the exception of the health and body department AND the meat department, they’re GREAT at checking to see if you need help with anything). If you have questions about anything in and around the store though, just approach someone on staff, and they are extremely helpful and accommodating.
Besides the expected fresh, expansive, and organic produce at a co-​op, their addition of the fresh almond and peanut butter machines have me solely devoted to their location for the freshness of this product (think about it… NOT having to stir the oil back into the nut butter gives you the upper hand over all other nut butter consumers… oh, and it’s «fluffy», too!).
The meat & seafood counter is one-​of-​a-​kind in variety, quality, and service. They even provide the fresh and more difficult to find 100% grass-​fed beef cuts from Thousand Hills Cattle Company (where most other locations sell pre-​packaged). For those who like to make bone broths, they have a great supply of soup bones waiting for you in their freezer.
Also, one of their many unique features is a fresh juice bar (if I’m going to drink juice, I don’t want the pasteurized and pre-​bottled juice, give me the real deal!)
This is a great place to find fun and random gifts for your foodie friends. There’s always something new to try at the Wedge.

The vibe here is so natural and friendly-​Knowing where your food comes from is worth the price tag.
For meat, the butcher recommended thousand hills. Ribeye was delicious.
They have exotic fruits and veggies like rambutan and mangos and Asian sweet potato.
I love their almond/​peanut butter grinder so you can grind yours fresh.
Almond/​soy/​coconut milk options are all there.
They have a co-​op member program I highly recommend for discounts-​$ 80 membership.

My first time here since I’m used to Seward Coop. Pluses: parking lot is big and very friendly burrito order taker, Man on floor and cashier and bagging person. The Prices are a little higher but I bought some things on sale. The Avocado burrito was lacking in flavor. Needs salsa which I thought it had on it. Bathrooms in front on store were clean. This store could be remodeled. Cute planter in front of store. I was in the area so did not make a special trip. Will probably return. One thing is they dont ask you to round up your credit card for their designated monthly charity, instead your .10 for bringing a Bag could go there if you wish or a dime off your purchase. This I liked better than Seward Coop also.

I came here to buy food to bring along a road trip. Tried looking for carrot juice but could not find any and was disappointed. Then I discovered the freshly made juice bar options of various blends. Bought some of the best juices ever, ended up getting FRESH carrot juice made right in front of me, along with other bags of pure grocery goodness! Had to float through google maps to make sure this was the same place. Has a nice feel and great food, for both pick-​up and grocery needs.
Very good quality.

Prices are pretty steep here but you can’t argue the quality or freshness of the food at this place. The staff here are very friendly and helpful… except for one cashier who makes you unload your basket… which is the oddest thing to me…
There usually is some type of new breed of fruit there are offering for $ 8-​$ 9 a pound that you can’t find anywhere else. Usually when I stop here it’s to hit up their deli and their bakery. The egg salad and tuna salad are the most delicious versions I’ve ever had and their curry chicken salad is to die for. I usually get one. or all of those salads with a fresh french baguette. I appreciate that they sell products from a lot of local vendors, like the skordalia dip from Gardens of Solanica.

In the immortal words of 2 Chainz: «Opinions are like Escalades, everybody’s got one.»
Everyone under the sun has an opinion about the Wedge. It is the OG of elitist white people grocery stores. This is the grocery store that causes hippies to mouth ejaculate about local, organic, sustainable EVERYTHING — while wearing hemp and smelling faintly of all natural deodorant and medical grade weed.
I can’t really add much to the discussion, so I’ll just add a few things…
1. The produce section isn’t really anything remarkable and everything is overpriced. Unless your strawberries are gonna clean my house and then murder everyone I dislike for me…$ 5 is a ridiculous price and you should feel bad.
2. The meat counter is awesome. However, I don’t give a shit about what the cow’s name was or what the cow liked to do in her spare time — I’m trying to get my steak on, not date the damn thing. Being able to directly source a product is nice, but quit making me feel like I’m on eHarmony. My 4 steps to compatibility include: buying the steak, marinating the steak, cooking the steak, and eating that son of a bitch. Don’t ruin it by telling me she enjoyed para-​sailing and oaky red wines. Stop doing what you’re doing.
3. Why are you asking me if I want a paper bag? I have 20 items and 2 hands, are you an idiot? Does it look like I can fit everything into my hoodie pockets? If that were the case I would’ve just stolen this $ 12 block of cheese and these $ 8 oranges. Of course I want a bag.
4. Minnesotans can’t drive. Or park. This parking lot is more dangerous than the Jersey Turnpike. And if you drive a non hybrid SUV, get ready to feel guilty for not giving a shit.
The Wedge would be perfect if all the people who love the Wedge would quit going there.

If I could have a love affair here, I would. If price were not an issue, that is. The produce is a beauteous selection and marked by organic status and state source– love that. The bulk bins are incredibly diverse. The breads are made here and elsewhere but also looking wondrous.
Really though, as far as co-​ops go the reason you will love this place is that everything you would need is here. They have a good amount of prepared food that though not cheap, is well labeled and organized by food, dessert and beverage. I cannot believe that I can purchase some vegan salads and sides and entrees, in-​house desserts, and smoothies and coffee/​espresso that all taste incredible?! All while purchasing some grocery items?!
If I lived in Minneapolis, I would go broke buying food here. Like others have said, the food is pricy and good… Dilemma for penny pinchers and those who must budget. So good! Impressively good food for a co-​op!

I love the Wedge, it’s one of my favorite Co-Op’s in the country that I have ever been too!
Great selection, knowledgeable and friendly staff, amazing prepared foods, great vegan cookies, Clean store, nice bathrooms, huge parking lot!
What more can you ask for! Nothing! This place is perfection in shopping! Keep up the great work Wedge!

My go-​to for a dessert run. Take the same route every time I enter. I start at the produce, linger around, select a few pieces of fruit, pretending I’m being healthy and then make a beeline for the bakery counter in the back right-​hand corner.
They’ve got a wide-​range of vegan desserts. No dairy, no butter = good for you… right, guys? Vegan dream bars are my addiction, but the coconut macaroons are also heavenly… both consistently outstanding. Admittedly, I have had some sub-​par cakes…
Some people act as though the produce is grown and shipped from the Garden of Eden. But, I’ve encountered some pretty crummy fruit (squishy avocados, half-​rotted plums, mealy apples, carrots so bitter I’m convinced they were soaked in nail polish remover) that even the «dreaded» Uptown Rainbow can top.
Sure, the Wedge has some hard-​to-​find specialty, health nut-​geared items, supposedly organic, local, good for the earth, cancer-​curing, poverty-​ending, yada yada. And, it’s undoubtedly a far more pleasant (though congested) experience than entering a big box grocer.
But, the prices pain me!
Fortunately, the price tags on my sweets are reasonable, even cheap, especially when compared to the vegan junk served just down the block at French Meadows for double, triple the price.
If nothing else, I’ll keep returning for my regular (once, twice… seven times weekly) sugar fix.

almost two years later and they still deserve 5 stars from me. This is for certain a chef’s paradise. They have so many fresh and fabulous ingredients to pick from. The mushroom selection deserves a couple snaps. They have fresh beef, lamb and chicken livers available. Amazing looking breads. Huge sweet potatos and big fresh eggs. The other shoppers were friendly and we were all just happy to be there eyeballin’ the gorgeous fresh chemical free foods.

Let’s pretend that Seward Co-​Op and the Wedge were in the Olympics, the results would look something like this…
Produce variety — Wedge, silver
Produce presentation — Seward, silver
Bread — Wedge, gold
Deli — Wedge, bronze
Bakery — Seward, bronze
Cheese — Seward, bronze
Meat — Seward, silver
Seafood — Seward, bronze
Grocery variety — Wedge, bronze (nb: more options isn’t always better though)
Frozen — Seward, silver
Bulk variety — Wedge, gold
Bulk presentation — Seward, silver
Spices — Seward, silver
Coffee — Seward, silver
Wellness — Seward, bronze
Prices — Seward, bronze
Customer service — Seward, silver
Store samples — Seward, silver
Store aesthetics — Seward, silver
Parking lot — Seward, bronze
Website — Seward, silver
If Seward Co-​Op and the Wedge got into a *bar fight* at C.C. Club, the Wedge would win.
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cross-​posted to Seward Co-​Op review.

Awww snap, how could someone not love The Wedge? This place has essentially defined the neighborhood around it. Any apartment listing would say «You should live here because Wedge, X, Y, Z. I’m not trying to be cheesy, but seriously, most people that go here love this place.
At The Wedge, customers can get a great variety of fresh and tasty produce. Aside from the produce, I love the option to buy everything from peanut butter to whole grain rice in bulk, and alternative and organic goods for just about everything. The vitamin, cosmetic, tea, and health section is awesome. The seafood there is solid, especially the shrimps and fishes. The Wild Copper River Salmon that they have –when is season– is so bomb.
One of the best things about the Wedge is the juice, smoothie, and ice cream bar. Honestly, try the vanilla coconut soft-​serve. Holy cow, it’s decadent and smooth. This is something that makes The Wedge so unique. It’s often used in a variety of drinks too! Try the Chai’s the Limit to get mind-​blown. *Note: shout out to my homie Arturo, who’s a notable dancer in the Twin Cities that works there. He’s probably nicest guy ever and he rocks the «El Toro» hat. The other staff members there are great too!
I would rank this place five stars if it wasn’t for the deli with the various soups, sandwiches, sushi, and sides. I’ve tried all of them, and I really don’t like any of them. The soups lack flavor, the sandwiches are stale, the sushi got me incredibly sick one time, and the sides (like the potato sald) are not that great. If customers pay a lot of money for these deli goods at the Wedge, they should at least taste good.
Overall though, I can’t really complain too much and I welcome paying the premium to eat great food. I love this place and I think a more accurate rating would be 4.5 stars.
Vanilla coconut soft-​serve, seriously.