A colorful illustration of a small green storefront called 'O.B. Peoples Food Store' with a large sign on the roof, surrounded by parked cars, trees, and a woman walking two dogs in the parking lot. The store appears to be from 1974, with handwritten date on the bottom left corner.

People’s History

1971: Our Co-op was founded by local activists seeking a community-owned alternative to conventional grocery stores. Their dream was a store offering healthy, non-polluting, cruelty-free foods at fair prices.

1972: The fast-growing enterprise moved into an apartment storefront at 4859 Voltaire Street.
1973: People's moved up the street to a former pool hall and continued to grow a reputation for unique selection and uncompromising quality.
1985: After operating as a worker's collective for nearly 14 years, the store transitioned to a community-owned food cooperative.
2001-2002: The Co-op constructed a new, sustainable building on the same site we have occupied since 1973. The new store served as a model of conscious construction.
2022: We celebrated 50 years serving Ocean Beach and the greater San Diego community!

Today, we are collectively owned by 12,000+ owners and their households. Our store features a 100% certified organic produce department, health foods, grocery, bulk foods and herbs, wellness, body care, supplements & more. Visit our upstairs vegan Deli & Bakery for entrées, salads, sandwiches, soups, juices, and fresh baked goods!

Black-and-white photo of a scene outside a food store with a delivery truck. A woman is unloading crates from the truck, and men are nearby, one wearing a shirt that says 'LEHIGH'. The store has a sign that reads 'OB Peabody Food Store.'

Exterior of a brick restaurant with a blue door, signage reading 'O.R. People's Food Store' and 'Natural Foods', and a mural with a sunburst design.

Two men smiling outdoors, one holding a small zucchini and the other holding a yellow zucchini, surrounded by greenery.

Gradient background from yellow to orange with the word 'LOCAL' in large white letters.

We ❤️ Local

We are lucky to have long-standing partnerships with so many local farmers and producers. Look for the LOCAL tag throughout our store! Eating with the seasons is a great way to ensure you are eating more local food.

Person holding a reusable tote bag filled with flowers, bread, and a carton of almond milk outside a store with colorful window art.

Store Departments

People’s is an entirely vegetarian store. Explore our offerings: 100% certified organic produce, wellness supplements & body care, sustainable bulk foods & herbs, grocery, perishables, + award-winning vegan deli & bakery upstairs.

Group of people at a community event or market, with a cheerful woman holding a toddler, children and adults enjoying crafts and food, with tents and booths in the background.

Community Outreach

From sponsoring and hosting local events and workshops, to nurturing community partnerships through donations and collaborations, to in-store giveaways, live music, craft fairs and supporting local artists — community is who we are!

mission, vision & values

Mission: To operate retail vegetarian consumer cooperatives providing high quality natural products at a fair and reasonable price.

Vision: The Cooperative is dedicated to helping people live in ways that are ecologically sustainable and that promote personal health and well-being.

Values: We believe that consumer ownership through a cooperative structure provides consumers with an optimal democratic forum to meet the needs of our community. We are committed to promoting ecological sustainability with the products and services we provide and in the way we operate our business. We promote and emphasize products that are nutritious, organically-grown, cruelty-free and produced in an environmentally sound manner. We believe that informed choices made by all consumers have far reaching impacts on the local and global community, and are committed to providing education and information to enhance nutritional and environmental awareness. We believe that our employees are valuable and essential to the success of our business, and will treat them with respect, compensate them fairly and provide a safe and supportive working environment.

cooperative principles

Infographic listing principles of community and cooperative participation with corresponding images. Principles include voluntary and open membership, democratic control, member economic participation, autonomy and independence, education and training, cooperation among cooperatives, concern for community, and diversity and inclusion.