Eat Your Values. Build the Road to Sustainability.
Every time you shop, you help keep your dollars local, support Midwest farmers, and strengthen our neighborhood’s food system.
We’re asking our community to come together again, to strengthen our roots.
Like all new independent groceries, it takes time for sales and margins to reach full potential. Most stores, co-op or not, aren’t profitable in their first years. That’s why we’re raising additional capital now: to build stability, maintain momentum, and make sure Wild Onion Market continues to grow and serve our community for decades to come.
Support the Road to Sustainability
Join us in our campaign!
Your investment, donation, or decision to become an owner helps ensure our store remains strong and vibrant.
Become an Owner
Preferred Shares
For Illinois-based owners, this is your opportunity to make a socially responsible investment that supports our co-op’s growth and provides potential future dividends.
Donations
Anyone, anywhere can donate. Every dollar helps nourish our future, ensuring our co-op continues offering the fresh, local food our community deserves.
Your Investment Strengthens Our Co-op
Your Help Makes Our Co-op More Sustainable
Every dollar helps our co-op operate with stability, integrity, and care, keeping local food accessible for all.
$50,000 Rent –The deferral of rent payments negotiated with our landlord concluded at the end of 2025 and we began the monthly repayment of these deferred amounts in January 2026.
$80,000 Sales Tax – The deferral of payments of the sales tax collected on the market’s sales stopped at the end of 2025 and we have repaid these collected amounts to the state in January 2026.
$25,000 Vendors – We are routinely 7-10 days past due on the payment of vendor invoices and need to get current.
$20,000 Deli Department – The expansion of the deli department was an aspect of the original plans for the market which we have not yet implemented due to the lack of capital to purchase the necessary equipment.
$25,000 Liftgate – The configuration of the alley delivery area requires the installation of a custom liftgate to more efficiently and effectively bring delivered goods into the storage area for later stocking on the store’s shelves.
$150,000 Working Capital Reserves – The projected operating results for the next two years do not reflect positive cash flow and the market needs a working capital reserve to absorb the anticipated deficits in cash generated from operations.
Total Funds Needed: $350,000
Total Funds Raised in Phase I (Oct-Nov 2025) : $149,000
Total Funds Remaining to be Raised in Phase II (April 13-June 14, 2026): $201,000
Funds Raised in Phase I
$9,000 Deferred Rent – Paid Deferred rent for January, February and March 2026.
$20,000 Working Capital – Ongoing operating expenses.
$5,000 Deli Department – The expansion of the deli department was an aspect of the original plans for the market which we have not yet implemented due to the lack of capital to purchase the necessary equipment.
$35,000 Liftgate –The configuration of the alley delivery area requires the installation of a custom liftgate to more efficiently and effectively bring delivered goods into the storage area for later stocking on the store’s shelves.
Total Funds Raised in Phase I (Oct-Nov 2025) : $149,000
Road to Sustainability –Phase II
$135,000 Working Capital Reserves and Vision Fund– The projected operating results for the next two years do not reflect positive cash flow and the market needs a working capital reserve to absorb the anticipated deficits in cash generated from operations, as well as funds for future improvements.
$25,000 Health Care Costs – New in 2026. Wild Onion Market’s contribution to Employee Health Care Costs.
Total Funds Remaining to be Raised in Phase II (April 13-June 14, 2026): $201,000
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
Email Invest@WildOnionMarket.com for more information or to speak to a member of the Fundraising Team about your investment options.
If you are ready to pledge, use our online pledge form now! Remember at our co-op, every purchase is building the kind of community we want to live in.
Not an Owner yet? You can still join us!
If you have an unanswered question, email us: Invest@wildonionmarket.com.
We love questions!