With 55% of staff residing within 1.5 miles of our stores, Seward Co-op is proud to be a workplace run by the community, for the community. One such employee is Nick L. (he/him) who works in receiving, a crucial part of the day-to-day operations at our food co-op. When Nick moved into an apartment near 38th St, he watched with curiosity as construction began on the Friendship store just down the street. “I had seen the ground being broken and the progress being made all year,” he says. “When I heard about a job fair at Sabathani Community Center, I jumped at the opportunity to work at a place that would quite literally be in my backyard.”

Nick joined Seward Co-op soon after and has become an integral part of the team that keeps the store running smoothly. For him, one of the best parts of the job is the quiet rhythm of early mornings. “I like getting a lot of work done before the world wakes up,” he shares. “It’s nice and peaceful, just me [and] my podcasts. Breaking down the load is a great workout, and I really like working alongside such fun and interesting people.”

But it’s not just the day-to-day work that keeps Nick inspired: it’s the connections. Through his role, he’s had the chance to meet and support many of the small business owners whose products fill Seward Co-op’s shelves. “My very favorite part of this job is meeting and getting to know the small business owners in this city,” he says. “I’ve gotten on a first-name basis with Barb from Pumphouse Creamery and might’ve even been a small part in why she brought back the Black Garlic ice cream one more time!”

Nick has also loved watching small businesses grow from their first deliveries to national recognition. “Sometimes, I’ll see an invoice with a single or double digit, and I know we’re one of the first places to ever carry that product,” he says. “Then later, they’ll get picked up by a big distributor like UNFI. It’s neat knowing we were part of these success stories.”

Through stories like Nick’s, we see how Seward Co-op is more than a grocery store. It’s a community hub where relationships, hard work, and connections thrive.