Abundance Food Co-op

Abundance Food Co-op is a community-owned natural grocery store located at 571 South Avenue in Rochester, NY's South Wedge neighborhood. Open to the public seven days a week, it operates as a cooperative—meaning shoppers don't need a membership to purchase, though co-op ownership is available. The store traces its roots to 1970, when a food store launched as part of the Genesee Co-op, a countercultural community organization formed in Rochester in 1968. In 1998, employees from that original food store established Abundance as an independent retail cooperative, initially operating as a buyers' club on Caroline Street before opening a storefront on Marshall Street. The co-op relocated to its current South Avenue location in 2017, gaining a larger space better suited to serving the neighborhood.

Abundance carries a full range of organic and natural groceries with a focus on local sourcing. Key departments and offerings include:

• Fresh organic produce, with an emphasis on local farms
• The largest bulk department in Rochester, stocking grains, pasta, dried fruits, nuts, seeds, coffee, and tea
• An eat-in organic deli with a hot and cold food bar, grab-and-go items, and prepared dishes featuring vegetarian and vegan options
• Health and nutritional supplements
• Natural body care products
• Housewares, books, and gifts
• Extensive vegan and gluten-free selections throughout the store

Abundance is Rochester's only community-owned natural grocery store, distinguished by its cooperative ownership model and its bulk department—the largest in the city. The co-op has maintained a commitment to organic, sustainable, and locally produced food for over five decades through its various incarnations, making it one of the longest-running natural food operations in the Rochester area.

The co-op sits at 571 South Avenue in the heart of the South Wedge, a walkable neighborhood south of downtown Rochester characterized by independent shops, cafés, and restaurants along South Avenue. The store is accessible by car or bus, and the surrounding South Wedge district—bounded roughly by the Genesee River to the west and Highland Park to the east—draws residents who prioritize locally owned businesses and sustainable living.