Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage

BEWARE! CUSTOMER BEWARE… VITAMIN COTTAGE DOESN’T CARE!!!
Here is a company who is glad to take your money… to the tune of about $ 100,000, in my case, in the last 14 years… but corporate can’t even offer an apology, after one of their products poisoned me with toxic mold! I do have proof and pictures of the mold… but they did not even want me to bring the product in to show them at the store, after the manager talked to corporate. In fact after I finally reached corporate on the phone, to discuss the matter, they even went so far as to question my honesty and integrity!
GO TO WHOLE FOODS or anywhere else… and save the grief! VITAMIN COTTAGE CORPORATE has shown me that… THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOU!!! THEY HAVE NO HUMANITY, CONCERN OR SHOW ANY OBLIGATION TOWARD YOU, IF SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH A PRODUCT THEY SELL!
WHOLE FOODS WILL TREAT YOU RIGHT if something goes wrong… with COMPASSION and CONCERN… because THEY TRULY CARE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS!
With all of the food contamination, product recalls and unsafe food out there now-a-days…wouldn’t you feel better trusting you health with a company who cares!

Grocery food? Excellent.
People? Professional and engaging.
Caring? Absolutely.
This is the first time I had ever stepped foot in Natural Grocers by Colfax and Washington. Yes, they bring light in the dirty streets of Colfax, by presenting us the beauty of natural, organic goods, and the goodness of their people. They are so caring, kind, genuine people, all of em. They know exactly where everything is located, and sell the most healthy, vigorous choices of meals yet. I didn’t even know half the stuff they sold existed. It made me want to fully convert to vegan-​ism. I am already a consumer of organic foods and vegan meals, however, I feel Natural Grocers expands my mobility of trying out the best products there. Not to mention, their study rooms and personal meeting tables. That is exactly where my math tutor came to help me study for a rigorous exam– and passed! Thanks to Natural Grocers, now I can shop with confidence, change and improve my diet, and most importantly, being able to study for my future tests here, at this location!

Very frustrating experience. I stopped by in the summer and got scared away by the long lines. Today I found out why the lines are so long. The clerks show no urgency to serve customers.
Today my clerk seemed to go out of her way to waste time. No joke, I watched her contemplating a paper bag while the hapless customers in line stood waiting. The other two clerks didn’t appear motivated to show any more urgency about serving customers.
What’s worse, once it was my turn, my clerk rang up my two items then turned and started a conversation with one of the other clerks. She didn’t greet me or even tell me the total. When I asked if she could finish processing my order, she got defensive. She pointed out that she had scanned my two items.
I asked the totak, and she pointed to her screen, which I could barely see. I started getting my money out, and asked how much change. She used a sharp tone to tell me and then rudely pointed out that I hadn’t given her enough cash.
At that point I just took my money back and left. I’d rather go to Whole Foods.

They need better customer service, that’s why the one star. One cashier in particular doesn’t understand I made a CHOICE to come in to spend my money there, but all he could offer was «oh yeah, sorry you can’t download your coupon maybe my manager can help since he knows iPhones». The manager never came and all that cashier could say «maybe it’s your service provider». Never had a problem anywhere with my phone (!) Too bad they sell items that no one else in the neighborhood or I would take my money elsewhere but if see that lame-​entitled cashier I’m gong tell the manager I don’t want THAT guy to ring me up.

Organic healthy food at an affordable price is the main reason I shop at Natural Grocers! The competition is high in the Cap Hill area with Whole Foods, Natural Grocers, the new Trader Joe’s, King Soopers and Safeway all within a few miles of each other. Natural Grocers is a relatively small store but all their produce is organic and they carry most of the natural brands the other stores do plus some unique products other stores don’t. It’s less overwhelming to shop here and you can actually browse in peace without bumping into another customer’s cart. It doesn’t get overly busy here every time I shop here, which is nice. Parking is easy in the lot in front of the store.
I love their ready-​to-​go snacks/​meals section where they have packaged salads, wraps, soups from Falafel King, Vert Kitchen, etc. Their supplement/​body care section is very well stocked. There’s usually free samples scattered around the shelves. I’ve discovered quite a few amazing products that way. They also hold nutrition and cooking classes in the classroom on the weekends. The staff is very friendly and helpful!
Natural Grocers makes it easier to stay on budget when shopping for organic produce and healthy foods! I highly recommend this store if you want to avoid the crowd!

I really do love shopping at Natural Grocers. The relaxed and friendly atmosphere truly embodies the company’s Colorado roots. This store is no exception.
I shop here during my lunch hour since it’s so convenient to work. Parking is plentiful and it’s always easy for me to get in and out of the parking lot, either with the red light at Pearl and Colfax or down the alley to 14^th Street. The store is pretty new and it’s quite large. The aisles are wide and clearly marked so you can find exactly what you’re looking for or discover a new treat or two.
If you need to pick up some lunch while you’re shopping, there is a large grab and go case stocked with fresh sandwiches and salads for both carnivores and vegetarians made by local companies such as Vert Kitchen and Etai’s Bakery. And if you would like to sit down and eat, you can do so at one of the several tables in the spacious community room. Or, if you’d like to gain nutritional knowledge or learn a new culinary skill, there is a demo kitchen at the back of the store for such endeavors.
Having Natural Grocers in the neighborhood is a definite benefit!

I love myself some Natural Grocers. I really do. And I’m so glad that this one is here! The one on 15^th is the worst. IT’s small, and they’re usually out of what I want, and this location is just the opposite. It’s large, there’s ample parking, and they keep the place stocked so well.
The staff is always friendly and helpful. Multiple times, the cashiers have gone out of their way to help me find something I was looking for that was in the back, but not on the floor yet. After I insisted that it wasn’t a big deal, both times, both cashiers made me feel like it really wasn’t a big deal and found whatever ingredient I was looking for in no time flat. Love this place.

I am a loyal patron of Vitamin Cottage, now Natural Grocers. They are grounded in true principles that improve our communities. However I won’t shop at the Colfax location! It used to be an Office Depot, and the whole feel of the outside hasn’t changed a bit. For a company that makes an art of natural living, not a single bike rack is curious. There is not ONE landscaping detail on the face of the store, even faceless corporations understand these aesthetics. The colors and lights are modern but not enough. There is sufficient parking, but a cold feeling surrounds the store.

Finally a Natural Grocers in my area!
I absolutely love this store, and love that I never have to think about whether or not the fruits and vegetables I buy are organic — because it’s ALL organic!
I asked someone at the store about the lack of a deli counter (in response to a comment here), and they said that the reason they don’t have one is because they make too much waste. Also, they carry so many products from small meat distributors that can’t afford that amount of waste, they’d rather sell their product refrigerated or frozen than the other way around. I thought that was a great answer.
There are sometimes questionable folk hanging out in the area (it is right off Colfax after all), but they always have a security guard just inside the door, and I’ve never felt uncomfortable or unsafe in any way.
The store is very clean, the employees are nice and super helpful, and every time I check out I’m surprised — I always think I’m going to spend more than I actually do. Their prices are the best as far as natural foods grocers go!

I like this Vitamin cottage, they have a nice selection. And Alkaline water which is a big plus, and the price isnt to bad.
Friendly check out staff as well.

This store has good energy and it’s great to see so many people shopping just off Colfax… it takes me back to the Rainbow Grocery days! (Rainbow later became Wild Oats.)
I’ve been a fan of Vitamin Cottage for years and I appreciate their high standards. You won’t have to pick carefully through the produce to make sure you’re not getting conventionally grown stuff when what you want is organically grown. You also don’t have to wonder if some pesticide residue has transferred onto your organic choice just because of proximity, a scenario one faces in Sprouts, Whole Foods, King Soopers and Safeway. I like the workers in this particular store and appreciate the architectural rehab this place has seen. It went from depressing as an office supply store to downright reinvigorated as a grocery store again. One more thing. If you compare prices to Whole Foods, Vitamin Cottage almost always comes in cheaper. This place is worth having a look if you live in the neighborhood and a good respite if you’re just passing through.

I lived in Capitol Hill for several years, and while we’re pretty well covered with Whole Foods and King Soopers, why not have another option — especially for those who live a bit further north?
I stopped in a few days ago and was pleased with the selection of organic fruits and veggies, most of which were offered for very reasonable prices. I didn’t see any issues with freshness — I bought tomatoes, onions, leeks, strawberries, blueberries, carrots, bell peppers, and a few other oddball items, and everything was fresh.
They have a surprisingly large frozen foods section with some good, healthy options. While fresh meat isn’t their forte, there is plenty in the freezer — everything from bison to stew meat.
Employees were friendly enough, and the place wasn’t at all crowded so I was in and out quickly. If you’re driving over, there is also VERY ample parking. Plus, you’re pretty much next door to Argonaut, so you can get everything you need for dinner and drinks!

I’m a fan of Natural Grocers and have been to locations in multiple states. The staff here is truly exceptional! Perhaps the best I’ve encountered, or at least as good as the Beaverton, OR location. Very knowledgable and helpful.

This store brings groceries even closer to downtown. I like that I can walk to King Soopers and Marzycks, but having Natural Grocers even closer has added immensely to the walkability of my neighborhood, the reason why I moved here.
I am not an experienced Natural Grocer shopper. I have seen them around, but never been in one. I do like the selection and the abundance of specialty items. It is not a big grocery store in terms of Safeway and King Soopers, but will provide needed items without having to drive. Instead it is more of a Whole Foods/​Sprouts.
Do it. We need more conscientious stores in the mix. This is Denver.
DT

Nothing wrong with it. In fact, it is an excellent addition to the area! Even if you are not a fan, you’d have to agree that it took a former Safeway-​turned-​Office Depot and turned it into something actually pleasant to look at.
The grocery side might be small but it has what you need and is high quality stuff.
I’ll go here while while the crowds are fighting for parking and processed food under a house label at that chain that is new to town. If you want Oreos, why not just go to Soop’s and buy the real thing?
BYOB (ags)!

I have been here on three separate visits, and have been disappointed each time by the fruit and vegetables. I don’t mind the smaller selection, but clearly there is not a big turnover because it did not look fresh. I have never had this experience at other Natural Grocers.

What a bunch of whiny babies there are on Unilocal.Vitamin Cottage is great and this location is fantastic. I’ve been going to the one near downtown for about a year now and enjoyed their lower prices and range of products. This Cap Hill store is bigger and better in just about every way. I haven’t had time to peruse the vitamin and wellness section of the store at length but it’s huge and probably contains just about anything you might want.
They don’t have as big of a produce area as some other stores, but I’m struggling to think of anything specific that it was lacking. And that follows for the rest of the store as well. There isn’t really anything that I couldn’t find here that I needed. It’s pretty much all of the same stuff that Whole Foods has, but at a cheaper price. There’s also a To-​Go case with a lot of options if you’re looking to pick up something quick for lunch. It’s true, they don’t have a meat or fish counter, but hey, maybe try not eating some for a meal or two?
Other pluses: A nice big parking lot and some very friendly customer service.
Oh yeah, make sure to bring a bag with you, lazy, because they don’t offer bags. You should probably be doing that everywhere you shop anyway. You’re not SOL if you don’t though as there are still plenty of boxes available to carry your groceries with.
So, to sum up why VitaCot is better than the other grocery stores in the area:
1. Cheaper than Whole Foods
2. Much cheaper than Marczyk
3. Not nearly as crowded as Sprouts and not stocked with garbage.
4. It’s not Safeway.

Not very impressed. Very small selection of vegetables but a great selection on spices. Bring your own bags in and you won’t get a credit to your purchase, however, they will make a five cent donation. What organization receives the donation you might be wondering. Well unfortunately, they don’t know. Oooookay… Headed back to Sprouts.

I want to say that it would be nice to have another grocery store in the Capitol Hill neighborhood to provide some variety, and hopefully cash savings over the only other choice, Whole Foods. While it does seem that the prices are lower on a couple of items I checked (eggs, frozen pizza, yes I am awesome), this is really only half a grocery store and a poor effort for something that is painfully missing from the neighborhood.
First, the good. The store is clean and has kept some of that old Safeway charm from years ago. While it cleans up the neighborhood, I think it’ll age quickly, only providing a slight glimmer for a time. The store is well organized, with signs available showing you where the good stuff is. And then there is the bad…
There is no service deli or seafood area, one of the charms of a higher end grocery store in my opinion. It’s all about packaged items of unknown provenance, and fresh produce. That is about it. Half the store is dominated by health and vitamin products, which I understand is where the brand came from, but the homeless and psychotics on Colfax have no need for this. They want to see a fish flying through the air. They want to see fresh meat being cut with a bandsaw. They want to see danger, sprinkled with quality and provenance. Ok, maybe not the last part, but you get where I am heading.
This is a missed opportunity for Natural Grocers. Instead of going head to head with the titans (Whole Foods), they have stuck a timid toe into the water and have missed completely. I left, head down, with a breakfast burrito from Udi’s (which was decent), a can of iced tea (which is always good), and a look of shame. I was tricked, violated, and kicked to the curb. I’ll be staying with Whole Foods from now on.