1,041 members and counting! Join the co-op here →
Winner of the 2026 Bill Gessner Startup Food Co-op Award!
Help us start a new food co-op in Watertown, Waltham, or Newton!
It’s time for a community-owned food store west of Boston.
Our co-operative food store will be owned and operated by members in our community instead of giant corporations whose interests are not aligned with our own.
What a co-op can help bring Watertown, Waltham, or Newton (and other surrounding towns):
A mission-based food store that serves its community and owners
Focus on local and organic foods sourced from New England
Bulk products to help families save money and shop affordably
Drive money and jobs back into greater Boston metro region
Check out more about our mission and see what we’ve accomplished so far.
Ready to invest in making a food co-op real in our community? Become a member today!
Timeline
Timeline
What have we gotten done so far?
April 2022: Incorporated, by-laws approved
June 2022: Membership drive kick-off
December 2022: Reached 500 members
January 2023: Feasibility study launched
Spring-Summer 2024: Market research studies completed
2025 + 2026: Evaluated several sites, applying for grants, hit 1000 members!
What’s left to make our store real?
Check out the timeline for a zoomed-out view of all the steps we need to take. More on our News page:
Our co-op’s PSA!
Thanks again to Watertown Cable Access, we have this great video intro to the co-op and what we’re about!
What could a store look like here?
Check out Jon Steinman’s photo album “THIS COULD BE OURS” right here to see food co-operatives across Canada and the U.S. and how they’ve laid out their store’s physical presence. Get inspired about what is possible to build right here in our towns!
Thanks to the Food Co-op Initiative and Jon Steinman for making this available for us!
Follow us on Instagram - @charlesriverfoodcoop
