Explore Our Remodeled Store

After four months of construction we are proud to showcase our new store features and products

Our 2016 remodel brought us expanded meat, cheese, and deli departments, a new dining area and an overall improved shopping experience. We’re excited about the new items that we can now offer with the same quality ingredients you love. I’ve talked with our meat manager and cheese buyer to get the scoop on what’s new with their departments.

Cheese

Our cheese department has moved to the new island across fromthe deli. It shares its space with an expanded olive and salad bar. With a larger space, our cheese buyers are able to bring in more delicious local cheeses! Here’s what Hannah has to say about her new department.

Which new cheese are you most excited about?

One new cheese that I’m excited about is our Petite Nuage (a fresh sheep cheese) from Landmark Creamery in Wisconsin. I’m currently working with Heidi, our new assistant cheese buyer, to find new items to round out our selection.

What factors do you consider when bringing in new cheese?

When bringing in new cheeses, I look for balance between animal/land stewardship, cheese type and flavor (does it round out our case profile?), as well as affordability. I shoot for local first and as much as possible. However, because organic certification is so expensive in the US, it’s difficult for smaller dairies to get organic certification. Even if they are as clean and responsible as can be, often it’s not worth the trouble for them. So our best local farmstead and sustainably made cheeses are often not certified organic. The more I know about a creamery’s practices, the more comfortable I feel buying more of their cheese. I work with a couple local vendors who tip me towards the most exciting local cheeses.

How many varieties of cheese do we carry?

We currently offer about 250 cheeses. More than half of our cheeses are local.

What are your personal favorites?

I’m always down for the nutty, stinky Alpine style cheeses like the Surchoix from Emmi Roth or Moonshadow from Cosmic Wheel Creamery. A few small bites go far with these, and they pair well with just about any beverage, craft or boxed. I think they have the most complex and exciting flavor profiles and have a lot of attitude once heated a bit. When it’s hot out, I’m eating chevre and ricotta with almost every meal; with something sweet for breakfast, like toast and jam, or blended into pasta with peas, garlic and Parmesan for dinner. Fresh cheeses are light and versatile, so they’re probably what I’m eating the most. Please stop by our new cheese department and talk to the staff! We all love cheese and enjoy talking to customers about our opinions and experiences with our different cheeses.

Meat

Our expanded meat department offers more selections of fresh meat and seafood and a greater variety of cuts. Charlie, our meat manager, talked with us about the excitement in his department. It’s grilling season!

What new products can customers expect to see in the next few months?

My personal favorites are the house-made Lemon Habanero brats. They are delicious on the grill or tossed into pasta. We’re also making onion and beer brats, which are perfect for grilling season. We make the brats in-house with Surly Bender beer. I also recommend our new house-made Mediterranean marinated lamb chops for a delicious weeknight dinner that’s full of flavor.

What are some of the most exciting changes that occurred in the meat department during the remodel?

I’m excited about the extra space we gained in our seafood case, which allows us to bring in a greater variety of fresh seafood. With expanded cooler space and a larger and more efficient prep room, our meat employees can work more efficiently and offer more unique cuts and LHC-made products.

What are some of the most important factors you consider when bringing in a new meat vendor?

We consider many factors when we’re bringing in new products. Ideally, we’re looking for local vendors who treat their animals well, use sustainable practices and don’t use growth hormones or antibiotics. We prefer small companies, grass fed and organic. In the end, we have to weigh all of these factors into our decision while keeping affordability, customer demand and product diversity in mind. Our meat department staff loves to talk about meats and seafood! Say hello next time you’re in the store!

Our Expanded Deli

Our freshly remodeled deli department now offers more prepared salads, a variety of pre-made sandwiches, more gourmet individual baked goods, and a new made-to-order sandwich menu. Visit the new deli case to try a salad or enjoy a hot sandwich fresh out of the oven or off the panini grill.  Our new deli counter offers vegan, vegetarian, protein and pasta based salads to meet every kind of dietary restriction and need. Whether you’re planning a party or just looking for a snack, our salads are the perfect solution. All prepared salads are sold by the pound, so you can get as much or as little as you’d like.

New Made-to-Order Sandwiches

Visit our deli counter for a full menu of delicious sandwiches, perfect for a quick and tasty lunch at the co-op. Our new sandwiches can be heated in the oven or on a panini grill.

New Hot Sandwich Options:

Chicago Italian Beef

Mojo Pork Cubano

Bulgogi-Style Short Rib & Kimchi

Louisiana Muffuletta

Five Spice Chicken Banh Mi

Five Spice Tofu Bahn Mi

BBQ Chicken, Bacon & Cheddar

Your made-to-order favorites from our previous menu can still be found pre-made in the deli case next to the prepared salads. You’ll find our dessert case in the corner of our deli department full of beautiful and delicious treats. All of our baked goods are made in-house every day. We’ve added a soup to your daily selection! Now you’ll have 6 to choose from. We’ve moved our rotisserie chickens to a convenient grab-and-go location near the hot bar.