What bothers me is the fact that I’ve read most of these concerns along with my own family’s concerns and yet it appears that there is no effective changes put forth. As soon as you walk in, you feel negative energy and the staff is very unwelcoming. DO BETTER.

Just happened 20 minutes ago. I was talking to a lovely and peaceful African American man in parking lot.Caucasian Merc Coop staff came outside and asked me if I was ok. We were having a friendly, peaceful conversation. I was offended.I suggest diversity and inclusion training to educate Caucasian staff on appropriate treatment of multicultural community members.Make up aisle only caters to lighter skinned demographic. Signage in produce features Caucasian farmers. Is this equity for our global community?Staff is predominately Caucasian. Especially in upper management.

They do not do well in providing a wide selection of sugar substitutes. They do not provide Allulose, Erythritol or Xylitol in bulk. Nor do they provide much selection in products made from these sugar substitutes. Because of this I feel this store is not a true alternative grocery store and rank it very low.

Mr. Jason...the financial manager, just came to my office, while I was out with a client, and proceeded to get hostile towards my employees regarding our company car being parked in what he called their parking lot. I came back and was informed by my employees that he threatened to have it towed unless it was moved.I have had my business in this spot before the Merc even existed here, more than 20 years ago. I have been an owner, and have referred a lot of other people to the Merc, but over the last several years, they have become so corporate that they seem to have forgotten what it is like for small businesses to be successful, especially in these times of Covid. Why is my company vehicle, parked in the large parking lot such a problem? You would think that there would be some sort of cohesiveness since we have been neighbors for so long, but instead, it has become more and more toxic over the years, and now they feel like they own the entire lot, and they absolutely DO NOT!! YOU DO NOT OWN THE LAND!!!I have dealt with pest problems due to them, among many other things, and after todays episode, I have HAD IT!!! I will be cancelling my membership with them, and would encourage everyone to shop at Sprouts where everything is REALLY organic. Having worked next door to them for so many years, I know for a fact, that they have processed food deliveries in the back.SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES!!!

I have been shopping at the Merc for years. Among so many other things, it is the best produce department around. I have come to rely on the Merc even more during the pandemic and trust them to ethically follow all the best practices. I highly recommend the curbside pickup service for those who have a vulnerable household member. You will get very kind, careful, personal attention in picking out your groceries and delivering them to your car without risk of contact. I am so grateful for this service to the community!

The staff was rude. The store had trash on floor. I seen a roach or two as well and that was it for me. Nasty nasty nasty!

I really love The Merc; its a great Lawrence original. Theyre very environmentally conscious and community first. Between their hot bar, sushi, deli, cafe, and groceries youll always find what youre looking for. This is a great place if youre looking for local, fresh, and unique products. There are many options for all kinds of diets here. I enjoy studding and drinking smoothies at the cafe. Go check it out!

Great food!

Love their choices of food but not the fact that they are not kind to ALL types of people. They have employees that are judgmental and even encourage them to snuff out those who have different opinions, ideas and beliefs. This was a sad epiphany for me.

Great local grocery store and they offer great cooking classes. Local items galore

The attitudes of the Merc employees has greatly improved. They may have read reviews and realized how much a serious face versus a smile can change the customer experience. I love going there for ready to eat food. I’m occasionally disappointed by their scones though when they appear to have berries (blackberry scone for example) but are just plain wheat with purple dye (I assume because there are purple stains but not a single berry in the scone and zero flavor).

Dear Merc Co-op, Welcome to Lawrence. This is a diverse town. Please adjust your prices accordingly. We dont need an upscale food store here. Whole Foods (Whole Paycheck) has better prices on a lot of things. I understand they have a bigger supplier. Dig your feet into the community and be a good fit. Lawrence is not snooty.Also, there are some staff that dont like customers or being in customer service. This is not good, and makes for an unpleasant experience at the store. Most staff seem incredible. But a few very negative people can affect the entire place and experience.Thank you and best of luck.

Always an enjoyable shopping experience. The Merc has a wide variety of natural foods, local produce, dairy and meat. It is true that their prices are often higher than supermarkets, but the quality of their products is superior. Some items are less expensive, milk for instance. I keep going back.

I love stopping through here just because. Thats how much I love the atmosphere! Their cold and hot food bar are wonderful for getting a quick and nourishing meal. Theyve got sandwiches made to order, sushi, salad bar, soup bar, smoothie bar, and a variety of cold sides and entrees ready to be heated up, as well as an assortment of hot meal items. I love their local vegetable selection as well as their local items throughout the store. Their workers seem to always be happy too!

Excellent choices of healthy, organic, and locally grown food. Kind and caring staff!

I liked the place at first. They have lots of different brands that most places do not have. As I was leaving, I noticed a dog was locked in a vehicle windows up and its July. I asked the guy at the express checkout to make an announcement so the owner would go get their dog, but he told me we dont do that here. You can call animal control. Seems weird to sell socks to save the bees, but the dog outside is out of luck.

They have a great coffee bar. All the coffee is organic, which is very nice considering it is one of the most heavily chemically sprayed crops today. They also offer organic cream, local milk, and natural brown cane sugar. Besides that, the store is great, the people are nice, and there is a big effort to keep everything community based and help small farmers which is great!

The Merc has a great environment and atmosphere. Most of my experiences have been extremely positive and the staff goes out of their way to help the customers compared to other grocery stores. 10/10 would recommend. :)

Always feels special. Their classes are wonderful, with great presenters, the products offered are all quality, and I have always had great service, no matter what the question or request. Can be on the expensive side but you know you are getting a real quality product. And expense can be made up for by buying from the bulk spices. Instead of paying 4 or 5 dollars for a spice that will go stale, you can buy as little as you want, and they are always fresh and fragrant. Its a great store.

The Merc is the best. Locally owned, lots of local and regional products that you just wont find anywhere else.Sure, a little pricey, but worth it to me for keeping my money local. Amazing breakfast burritos in the morning!

Hands down the best grocery store of all time. Even though it is much smaller than a chain grocer, you will find more products here than any Kroger. They have a bulk aisle where you select how much you want, tons of fruits and veggies, and amazing prices considering what kind of food you are buying here and how well the Merc treats staff.A lot of the reviews state that staff is uptight but I never got that vibe - if you are kind to them they will always be kind to you. Out of the probably two hundred times Ive been in this store, I only had one bad encounter. The remaining 199 were great! (Added bonus: staff here are far more knowledgable than most grocery store staff).

Great source of organic produce, although they always dont have everything... Still worth the stop! Priced as organic food would be in store.

The store lives up to its motto with good local food. At a great price, too!

After living in Lawrence for a while I’ve finally got accustom to the sense of community and friendliness by fellow residence, that was until I unfortunately stepped foot into this place. From the moment I walked in the unwelcoming engery and arrogance wafted through the air more than the hot food section. Prior to being a Lawrence resident I lived in D.C so believe me when I say I am no stranger to arrogance and impolite people. I expected more of this establishment and this place is tarnishing the welcoming and friendly reputation of the community. I don’t ever plan on stepping foot in there again.

Good natural and organic grocer store. They held events once in a while where you can get samples of natural products. They also have lunch for a reasonable price. Menu is changed daily but every is made with produce sell there. Is a coop.

Excellent produce selection if you miss the farmers market. Their produce is the best in town! Staff is always friendly and helpful if you are patient. They have a wide variety of selection in the meats and cheeses...Also, the classes are wonderful and affordable!

The mercy is my favorite place to get anything organic/vegan/natural. Good selection too!

Im a longtime Lawrencian and have shopped now and then at the Merc through the years. Honestly speaking, when I do stop in for something I all too often get too much of the attitude/arrogance vibe by some of the staff. Certainly there are also good and friendly folks employed there, but I get the feeling that their hiring practices really need to focus more on people who have better customer service skills and not just qualify them on hipness quotient. Stopped in today and got the same Im just a little too cool to be friendly attitude from a cashier..

One of the staff was stocking shelves and gave me a five dollar make my day coupon to buy an item that I had never tried before. He said all of the staff are empowered to encourage customers trying new items by offering such incentives. I saved 1/2 on the $10 oil I bought. Best grocery customer relations in town.

Really enjoyed the great quality of cheeses and meats! Loved the ability to get the sunflower seeds that I enjoy! Great place! Will have to stop again the next time Im in town!

Pleasant shopping overall with good quality foodstuffs, but prices are generally high. Also, there are strange lapses in available staples, for example pickle relish and 1% milk. The staff is often helpful and friendly but sometimes not so much.

Love this place. Everything is high quality and its nice to have somewhere in town to get less common spices. It is a bit more expensive than just a plain old grocery store, and theres not a huge selection, but its worth it!

The best shopping experience, great produce and truly friendly service.

The cashiers are always friendly. I love their efforts to support local and organic choices. The quality of their produce is exceptional. Going there makes me happy.

I agree that The Merc has great quality foods, but the prices are ridiculously high. All natural pork loins are 2-3 times a regular pork lion. Will continue to shop there if I need something special.

I miss the Merc terribly since moving from Lawrence. The coop is invested in the community in meaningful ways (including food classes and a school garden program) and is an inspiring example of ethical business that puts care for people ahead of other interests. I always feel at home when I am there.

I love The Merc! The quality of the produce, meats, etc are great. I wish it was more affordable for me to shop here primarily.

Great place to get some locally fresh veggies

Ive had 1 poor experience with a rude cashier, but everyone else is super nice. Things are expensive but they pay their employees good, fair wages so that is to be expected. Deli people are always super nice to me when I dont know what I want/when I get confused by the many options. Its expensive, but worth it.

Delicious foods at at the small buffet. Easy to see what the foods have that many people look out for: vegan, gluten, soy sauce, milk for example. Workers reply quickly to help a person who feels confused!

Super cute local healthier grocery store with indoor seating.

Visiting from CA. The Merc Co+op beats our failed or failing attempts at co-ops. Great products, friendly and helpful staff, on and on. Granted the prices are a tad higher than chain stores but its worth the few extra pennies. If you live in Lawrence and arent a member you should be. You dont want to lose this store because of big box competition.

I decided to give the Merc another go this weekend and would say I was pleasantly surprised by my experience. Last time I dealt with employees that seemed annoyed by my indecisiveness and my lack of focus (kids can cause these things). This time employees seemed to go out of their way to help and start conversations. The dude in the banana suit deserves a raise! Maybe the day staff is just a little more savvy with their customer service than the evening staff. Or maybe my last visit was an anomaly.The prices seemed to be a little more reasonable. This may be because Im getting used to the gouging that occurs when trying to shop healthy. Sprouts, Natural Grocers, and other competition could also be helping with a decrease in prices. Maybe a little of both.

These people are abusive to their community.

Hippie store, heck yeah! Everyone loves tattoos and colorful hairdoos. Buy stuff thats healthy and shop local. Its good for you and the world.

The merc coop is the best place to get local and organic food in Lawrence! The hotbar and prepared foods are delicious and quick to grab in a pinch. The bulk department is vast and they have the best meat in the city. I love the coop.

Really great place to shop for local and organic foods in Lawrence, Kansas. Truly a gem in the Midwest. The Merc had been in business for many, many years and will probably continue for many more.I found some amazing local tofu and tempeh. They have other items I really want to try.When you visit just make sure to bring some extra cash. It does get pricey.

Service is unrivaled. Products excellent. Prepared food is delicious. Ned I say more?

In addition to a grocery where you can find lots of local products, they have a salad bar and a hot bar. It is my favorite place to pick up something healthy and quick!

I love the Merc, and all the people who run it. But there is a guy in the deli who was very rude, frankly intimidating- he did not want to slice meat and after doing so slammed the cut meat on the counter angrily sayingThere you go!. I am from the northeast, outside NYC, and no stranger to quick, efficient, less than midwest charm service. But this was different, it was aggressive and intimidating.

Best quick lunch and salad bar in town!!!

It is 8:30 pm Thursday and here at Clinton Lake it is pouring down cool rain I posted reply on Facebook about solar energy to Bobby Rae. thanks for your comments on global warming.

I have been a member since 1982. The customer service seems to get worse as the years pass. I am grateful for the other health food stores in town.

Wonderful selection of grocery and wellness brands. Really friendly staff, and great location.

Helpful knowledgeable staff. Great variety of local homegrown/made products.

Friendly, helpful employees. Yummy fresh fruits. Smells like heaven 💖💖💖

They dont tell anyone but apparently they have a program for those receiving snap benefits: you can become a member for only $10, and get a 10% discount on your purchases. I happened to be waiting by the door and picked up a form to read while snacking. I was surprised, happily. I moved here months ago and inquired about membership/s and was told nothing about this program. I even ASKED specifically about a discount program then-! That is a lot of money I could have saved for much needed healthcare, dental care, housing and more-! When I asked a staff member about the discount I was told it was for members only. I replied that membership is too expensive for those receiving snap. They responded in a rude tone If you read the brochure.. I couldnt believe it. Who is this person?Food is a big deal. Not everyone has access to it and it can change someones Life.They set their prices for the yuppy contingent, and well to do retirees. Which is disappointing. I wanted to make the merc my go to store, but it is not possible. I would be making other people rich. Natural Grocers has an ethical price point, discount program they tell people about and staff who want to engage with you. -Some- of the staff at the merc would rather be flossing a rhinos teeth than talk with you at best, and are disrespectful, rude and alarming at worst! Why do they allow the staff to have such attitudes? If you dont like or cant work with the public, a grocery store job is not for you and where you will shine.How lucky are we to have all these options for nourishment, and I am grateful. But to marginalize it is troublesome. I hope the merc evolves to serve ALL people, not just the those with heavier wallets. I hope it becomes more ethical in their business model, and respects their customers who keep their business afloat, because it is just that, a business people make money off of.City Market @ Burlington, VT - a co-op in a town much like Lawrence - has a similar discount program, only the membership is -free- for snap recipients. And the cashiers/staff tell you about it and give you the opportunity to be a part of it. They are honored to be the heart of the community there and show it. I just cant shake the feeling someone is making money off the merc where they shouldnt, at least not in terms of how they portray themselves, their business model and what the merc supposedly stands for. The annual booklet shows they are financially very secure. Where are the programs for those that need it most? I hope the merc evolves for the betterment of the entire Lawrence community, not only some, and embraces and honors those who have more challenges than others and who need nourishment the most to face those challenges.

I enjoy going to The Merc for the Kombucha but other than that I dont enjoy it. The employees are not very friendly. I havent had a very good experience with any of the cashiers. Yesterday the cashier literally rolled his eyes at the customers in front of me when they walked off. But this is not the first time this has happened. The guys and the girl that work at the cafe counter are usually pretty nice and helpful though. So if you need to only go over there is a better experience.

Good store

Love the atmosphere and the friendly people who work at the Merc. Met a friend for lunch. The food was healthy, delicious and just cost me 9$.

The Merc, like many natural/organic food stores, offers items you just cant find anywhere else. This is a good thing. The problem with The Merc, which you wont find at Whole Foods or Natural Grocers, is not just that they offer brands that are marked up 40% compared to a traditional supermarket, they offer a paid membership where at the end of the year you will share in the profits of the company. It sounds good, right? But your profit check is contingent upon how much you spend each year with them. Some simple math will tell you that the only benefit to this kind of company is to make you feel like a good person when you buy their merchandise. Meanwhile the company is profiting off your disillusionment. Also, like most places in Lawrence, there is an absence of customer service and a very real presence of pretension.

Im a regular shopper. However, Ive had to give up some of your items because of the amount of food (sandwich wraps) that is included. It appears I will now give up on the ginger scones. I do expect ginger. The last 3 times there has been 0 or 1 ginger piece.

Really fresh ingredients and amazing employees​. I can always find good deals.

Found all items I was looking for, even had help from cashier for assistance.

I think the Merc is pretty fabulous -- Id be thrilled to do more shopping there, because I love local business, but for the family with a strict budget its not always practical. That said, I do make a point of picking up certain items, or going if I only need a handful of items. (Especially as we live down the street.) ---- The big sell for me is the bulk section. Its an inexpensive option for things that you dont need tons of (spices, flours, and beans for us), and for the foods that you cant necessarily find at the bigger grocery stores. Im a particular fan of their granola. ---- If you can afford it, if youre very conscious of whats in your food, and if youre big on supporting local, Id go Merc all the way. Theyre friendly and the atmosphere is really relaxing.

Great place to pick up groceries or a quick meal.

A smallish grocery store with good selection and friendly staff.

Very nice organic options

Excellent high quality products, locally sorced were possible best produce... In the area.

Good eats! The hot bar is good.

Super clean. Super fresh. Super friendly .

The products are overpriced. I only go to the Merc for a few products I can’t find in the other stores. Lately, a few times I decided to buy some discounted products that were on the shelf at the end of the store . I bought some fruit ( apples, peaches )and some herbs. Everything was spoiled badly. I threw it into the garbage can . It was still overpriced in compering, for example, Dillon’s regular prices . It was packed that you cannot see what is inside. Such products should not be SOLD !!! Or you should not pack them and seal the bag, that customers can’t see what is inside!!!

Love The Merc in Lawrence! Great food and super knowledgeable employees!

Very large all natural goods store.

Lovely dinner. Happy ending!🐵

The Merc is a place in Lawrence WHERE YOU MUST BE SEEN, but as you have probably figured out by now, I could really care less.I have been to THE MERC exactly twice and have not been impressed. Not sure what all the hype is about other than the fact that they are the only game in town ... OH, HOW I MISS WHOLE FOODS! I guess if you are a hippy, yuppy, Bohemian. or metrosexual,Whatever you do, do not buy their Oil of Oregano!!! You can buy 1 ounce of pure Oil of Oregano online for $25, but THE MERC sells it DILUTED WITH OLIVE OIL FOR $25-$60 an ounce. I knew far more about the product than THEIR EXPERT and after educating her, she blew me off.I am sure I will get some hate mail for this and again ... I COULD CARE LESS!CombatCritic Gives THE MERC 4 Out of 10 Bombs Based On Value ... BOMBS ARE GOOD!

I am giving them a five for their baked goods which are sooo good.kind of hard to believe that it is a grocery store bakery.

This is the best place to buy groceries. Nothing compares.

The people there are very welcoming and they are very nice.

I do like the Merc. Coffee prepared foods, I should shop there more a little pricey and not always open when I need them. Please dont ask if the pineapples are local, the employee may not ridicule you but I will.

This is a great place to buy good meats.

Very helpful staff, friendly, great natural products!

Love the grocery store, the lunch, cafe, etc. Good local store.

Their salad bar is the best!!!!! Love this place.

Excellent good!! Wonderful envionment!!

Excellent deli food, produce, baked bread, desserts

Good, cool food and friendly service

A Lawrence institution ❣️😍Support your local Merc; what a gift!

Member since mid 90s. Local produce, meats, organic and conventional.

Best grocery store in Lawrence!

Great service and products!

OK selection. But overpriced.

Friendly helpful staff

Great food!

Always organic, natural and local products.

I like the meat department

The cooking classes

Nope