Prairie Food Co-op Opening Celebration!

Happy Opening Day, Prairie Food Co-op!

On Wednesday, July 9th, Prairie Food Co-op celebrated its opening day with its 2,285+ owners and their entire community.

This celebration was a culmination of 12 years of community building, fundraising, and careful planning - and their local community, as well as fellow cooperators from food co-ops all over Illinois were there in force! We are thrilled for Prairie’s owners, board and staff on reaching this huge milestone. Congratulations!

Prairie Food Co-op co-founder & board member, Jerry Nash, cuts the ribbon in front of the store’s doors. (Photo provided by PFC)

Key facts about Prairie Food Co-op:

Location: Lombard, IL (population 43,779, in the Chicago statistical area)
Incorporated February 2013. Opened July 2025
Size: 7754 sq ft total; 5041 sq ft is the retail sales floor
# of owners at opening: 2535
2021 winner of the Bill Gessner Startup Food Co-op Award; 2020 winner of the Up & Coming Startup Innovator Award
Fun Fact: their grocer store is located in a round building!

“The soft opening of Prairie Food Co-op on July 9 was an inspiring success, and we are overwhelmed by the strong support from our community. To see so many community members walk through our doors for the first time was truly rewarding," said Prairie Food Co-op Board President, Leslee Keri.

The very first customers enter Prairie Food Co-op’s gorgeous produce department after the doors open. (Photo provided by Chris Dilley)

"This milestone reflects years of dedication and grassroots effort to build something truly unique for Lombard and all of Dupage county. With General Manager Gabriel Smith at the helm, we are more committed than ever to our mission of nourishing our community, and supporting our local farmers, with local, sustainably produced food. We are deeply grateful to everyone who helped bring this vision to life, and cannot wait to see you in the aisles!"

Startup food cooperators from all over their region came to help and celebrate with PFC on the big day! In this picture are cooperators from Food Shed Co-op (McHenry, IL), Chicago Market (Chicago, IL), Shared Harvest Food Co-op (Elgin, IL), and Wild Onion Market (Chicago, IL). (Photo provided by Scott Brix)

This was Prairie’s soft opening and they will host their grand opening Sunday, August 24th - make your plans now to join them if you are going to be in the area!

PFC’s entryway, with one entire wall boldly proclaiming, “All are Welcome! Come on in! Everyone can shop here. Owners get perks.” on a background depicting their logo and and rolling hills. (Photo provided by PFC)

Members and community members outside of PFC ready to shop! (Photo provided by Chris Dilley)

FCI’s own Chris Dilley, our Director of Startup Support, was helping to put products on shelves and helping the crowds of customers! Pictured from left to right: Chris Dilley (FCI), Leslee Keri (board president of PFC), Dana McKinney (board member, Chicago Market) and Kathy Nash (co-founder and board member of PFC). (Photo provided by Chris Dilley)

Congratulations, Prairie - we can’t wait to see what is to come!

In Cooperation,

The FCI Team