More than a store.
A movement since 1975.
Our Story
Community Market didn’t start in isolation. We were part of something bigger.
In the mid-70s, a handful of grassroots organizations in Northern California came together with a shared vision: build a food system rooted in cooperation, justice, and care for people and the planet. That vision became the Red Clover Workers’ Brigade.
It included Santa Rosa Community Market, Country People’s Warehouse, Sunshine Produce, and Morningstar Trucking — a fierce, all-women team hauling organic produce up and down the West Coast. Red Clover Bakery, which would grow into Alvarado Street Bakery, was part of it too. Together, we formed a collective that believed workplaces should be democratic, communities should be nourished, and profit should never come before people.
By the early 1990s, Community Market was the last of the original Brigade still in operation. We carried it forward. We still do.
A Different Kind of Grocery Store
We got our start in a quiet Santa Rosa neighborhood, tucked between homes on Morgan Street. It wasn’t flashy, but it was full of purpose, a place where people came for bulk grains, honest food, and a different kind of connection.
From day one, we’ve done things our own way. No owners. No shareholders. No corporate overlords. Just workers, showing up for each other and for our community. We set our own standards, and we don’t bend them.
In the 1990s, we moved into our current Santa Rosa location. It gave us more space, but we brought the same soul with us. Then in 2013, we opened our Sebastopol store in The Barlow, a place made for community. It’s home to our fresh-made hot bar and deli (mostly organic, always delicious), and to The Garden — our taproom and espresso bar. Out front, the lawn is anchored by a big stone fireplace and a stage for music, gatherings, and outdoor events.
This isn’t just a place to grab groceries. It’s a third space — not home, not work, but a spot where people can come together, slow down, and feel like they belong. That kind of space matters now more than ever.
A Store with a Soul
This isn’t just a place to shop. It’s a place built on purpose, to support workers, to serve the community, and to push back against business as usual.
We stock our shelves with intention. Every item has to meet our standards, not someone else’s bottom line. We prioritize organic, local, and ethically made goods. If a company doesn’t align with our values, it doesn’t make the cut. Every ingredient is considered. Every label is read. Because what we sell reflects who we are.
We also believe that how a store operates matters just as much as what’s on its shelves. Community Market is worker-run, which means we elect our own board, share leadership, and make decisions together. It’s not always the easy way, but it’s the right one.
This model isn’t about maximizing profit. It’s about integrity. And it works because we believe in it, and because we believe in each other.
Mel: The Heart of the Market
If you’ve been a part of the Market in the last 30 years, chances are you’ve felt the impact of Melissa Minton, affectionately known to just about everyone as Mel. She had a way of making people feel welcome, known, and part of something real. When Mel joined the Market in 1991, she made an impact that shaped Community Market forever. Her first role was the 6 a.m. bulk stocker, a job she loved. From there, Mel’s journey through the Market was as dynamic and multifaceted as she was.
She became our receiver (and a skilled forklift driver), then moved on to be our perishables buyer. Eventually, she joined the board, served as board president, stepped up as interim General Manager, and in 1998, officially became our GM.
Mel was sharp, passionate, and always curious, constantly learning and constantly growing. She believed in the potential of every worker and took genuine joy in seeing their lives evolve, whether they stayed at the Market or moved on to other paths. She led with care, humor, and fierce integrity.
She loved birds, animals, reptiles, and fish, and her favorite trip was to Botswana, where she went on a binocular safari. It makes perfect sense. Mel had a deep reverence for life in all its forms.
Her legacy runs through everything we do: in how we lead, how we hire, how we show up for each other. She was the heart of this place, and we carry her spirit with us every day.
Still Worker-Run. Still Groovy.
Today, we’re two stores strong and celebrating 50 years of showing what’s possible when people organize around values. We’re still not-for-profit. Still worker-run. Still fiercely independent. And still just as groovy as we were in 1975.
This isn’t just a grocery store. It’s a movement. And we’re so glad you’re part of it.
