Downtown Embraces Bennington Community Market
Over the years, when polling the community for amenities they would like to see in Bennington, Vermont, one of the most common requests has been a downtown grocery store. Well that dream became a reality after many, many years of discussion and effort. The Bennington Community Market (BCM) officially opened its doors with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 9, 2023. The event drew a big crowd with smiles and excitement at the transformation of the space and what it has to offer.
BCM's focus is on local and fresh at affordable price points. Their kitchen makes fresh food, on-site daily. There's the already popular "build a bowl" (choose a grain, protein, and veggie), with an ever changing menu of options. Alternatively, you can build a baked potato, get soup or they even have breakfast items such as biscuits & gravy. The food gets rave reviews! The kitchen is open 7 days a week from 8 AM - 6 PM, with the market staying open an hour later 'till 7 PM.
My favorite feature is the open space with large and small tables. It's perfect for lunch meetings with colleagues, meeting up with a friend or a solo dinner. The long tables near the front picture windows have charging stations, great for anyone who needs to charge their phone or plug in a laptop to keep up productivity while refueling.
Local, hot fresh coffee plus pastries and other baked goodies make it the perfect spot to swing through in the morning. Parking in front is super convenient and accessible, making this a quick and easy stop for anyone and everyone. Likewise, the grab-and-go cooler (straight ahead when you walk in) offers a wide variety of big and small meals so you can pick up something that’s sure to satisfy on the way home for dinner. If you’re like me, late night snacks are just as important, and I guarantee you’ll find whatever you crave - whether it’s a sweet or salty treat.
We bought a $50 membership... and encourage you to do so if it's within your means... but you don't have to be a member to enjoy this new gem. BCM's "fresh food access fund" provides gift cards to local social services organizations, who give them to consumers to help them access fresh foods. Gift card holders can purchase anything at the market from groceries to a hot meal. Fifteen percent (15%) of all memberships and one-time donations go into the fund, so when you join, you can feel good about giving opportunities to others who are less fortunate.
The Community Market is an excellent addition to the markets we already have downtown. We are proud to support the market and all those who made it happen. Great things are happening in downtown Bennington and we are here for it!
