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Wild Onion Market Co-Op Plans 1st Anniversary Celebration on June 22

  • Writer: Bob Benenson
    Bob Benenson
  • Jun 9
  • 2 min read

Community-Owned Grocery is Located in Chicago's Rogers Park Neighborhood


Photo by Bob Benenson
Photo by Bob Benenson

Wild Onion Market, the co-op grocery store located in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood, is celebrating its 1st anniversary on Sunday, June 22 — and you're invited.


The event will take place from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the store, located at 7007 N. Clark St. (at Lunt)


Here's the info we received from our friends at Wild Onion, about which Local Food Forum has published on a number of occasions:


One year ago, Wild Onion Market opened its doors with a simple mission: to provide fresh, local, and sustainably sourced food while empowering the Chicagoland community through cooperative ownership. 


Whether you’re an owner or just curious about what makes Wild Onion Market special, this is the perfect opportunity to join the fun. We’ll have:


  • Live music

  • Local vendors

  • Activities for kids

  • Delicious food samples

  • And much more!


We’re reaching out to friends and neighbors across Evanston, Rogers Park, Edgewater, West Ridge, Andersonville, and Uptown to make this a true community event.


You don’t have to be a co-op owner to shop or participate—everyone is welcome!


If you aren't a resident of the aforementioned communities but want to learn more about co-ops and how they operate, come anyway. (I live in Lakeview and I'll be there.)


The most distinguishing trait of co-ops is that they are financed through the memberships of community members (known as owners), who have a role in the selection of board members and the products they would like to see on store shelves, and also receive discounts on purchases.


Illinois has not been a very fertile environment for co-ops, in part because of fundraising limitations under a law passed in 1913. But the sector is undergoing a mini-boom. In northern Illinois alone, Wild Onion Market joined Food Shed Co-op in exurban Woodstock in opening doors in spring 2024. Prairie Food Co-op has scheduled its grand opening in west suburban Lombard for July 9.


Chicago Market has started its buildout in a historic building in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. Chicago Market also operates the Uptown Farmers Market, located on Sunnyside Ave., on Wednesdays from 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.


Click the 1st button below to learn more about Wild Onion Market and the 2nd button to read a Local Food Forum article about Matt Wechsler, the market's general manager.



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