Runner-up: Main St. Market, Warrenton

Honorable mention: Fred Meyer, Warrenton

When Zetty Nemlowill heard readers chose the Astoria Co-Op for Best Grocery, the co-op’s marketing director couldn’t help but think of the future.

“I’m excited. We’ve been working so hard on our new store, and I think a lot of people recognize that since it’s in the news. But there’s also the work we do everyday in this 2,000 square-foot store,” Zemlowill said. “The fact people are supporting us here is important because we couldn’t be taking this big leap without their support.”

The Astoria Co-Op started in 1974 with a vision to provide locally-sourced food to the community. Zemlowill believes readers chose the grocery because the staff genuinely care about the customers.

“We were started by local people who wanted a store with good local food, and we’re still doing that,” she said. “We put people before profits. It’s a unique business model people like in this day and age.”