Businesses in Our Neighborhood

"Businesses in our neighborhood" highlights an important part of Old North Knoxville's past, present, and future. If you own or run a business in the Old North Knoxville area and would like to be profiled, contact Old North News, at 865-524-8515.  Previous profiles may be found in the newsletter archives on this website. 

In this installment we profile 

The Knoxville Community Food Cooperative

		Located at 937 N. Broadway, the Food Co-op is open to the public and for 23 years has offered a wide variety of products.

Once, the corner grocery was a common feature in older neighborhoods such as Old North Knoxville. You often walked down to the store, bought what you needed, and then walked back home. Today in Knoxville you find a few vestiges of that in the Ft. Sanders neighborhood where there are a couple of small grocery stores. 

In Old North Knoxville, we have a version of the neighborhood store. Located at 937 N. Broadway, the Knoxville Community Food Cooperative (or the Co-op as it is known) has been serving Old North Knoxville residents for nearly 23 years. The Co-op is a natural foods grocery store and much, much more. 

Visitors will find a wide variety of foods including canned goods, jams and jellies, honey from local bees, snacks, and beverages (including a wide selection of domestic and imported beer.) Families with young children will find a selection of organic baby food and natural baby products. Environmentally friendly cleaning solutions and paper products are available in the housekeeping aisle. If you're concerned about your pet's health, you may want to try the Co-op's line of organic and vegetarian pet supplies. Folks with food allergies will want to check out the selection of special foods and baking mixes. They carry a wide variety of herbal supplements and natural skin care and cosmetics. 

Strolling the aisles of the Co-op is rather like visiting an old-fashioned general store. Bulk bins house an innumerable selection of treats including: rice (try the brown basmati, it tastes like hot buttered popcorn,) beans, pasta, nuts, cereals, flours and cornmeal, fig bars, and animal crackers. Tea, coffee, and spices are available by the ounce; buy as little or as much as you like. In the back room you'll find locally grown and organic produce as well as dairy products including cheese from Sweetwater Farms, and milk and butter from Cruz Farms. The co-ops freezers are brimming with healthy entrees, veggies, fruits, and ice cream. 

Finally, all this abundance is right in our neighborhood and you needn't be a member to enjoy it, although members do receive special benefits. The Co-op is open to the public daily from 9 AM to 9 PM. Parking is available at the door or across the street at Broadway Carpets. For more information or to become a member, call (865) 525-2069 or visit www.knoxville.coop. Of course, you can always walk down and pay them a visit as well.

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