The Goose Community Grocer

The Goose Community Grocer is owned by Goosefoot Community Fund, which invests the net profits from the grocer back into the community in a number of different ways:

• In the past 10 years, Goosefoot has donated more than $2 million in grants to local nonprofit organizations.
• Since 2017, Goosefoot has provided annual grants to three named supported organizations: South Whidbey @ Home, Whidbey Island Nourishes, and Whidbey Watershed Stewards, as part of its nonprofit/for-profit business model.
• In response to the affordable housing crisis on Whidbey Island, Goosefoot provided start-up funding and staffing support to establish Island Roots Housing, which completed its first affordable workforce rental housing development in 2026.
• Since 2021, Goosefoot has partnered with Whidbey Community Foundation and the Opportunity Council to raise more than $580,000 for the Essential Needs program, which helps cover basic needs for Whidbey Island neighbors when other grant funding is not available.
• In August 2020, Goosefoot established the Round Up Program at The Goose to support local nonprofits, and customers have given more than $510K as of July 2026.

Goosefoot never meant to own a grocery store when it purchased a large portion of the Bayview Center shopping plaza in 2005. But when the Red Apple grocer declined to renew its lease in 2008—also the year of the Great Recession—Goosefoot had no choice but to take over ownership. The alternative was an empty 21,000 sq. ft. space in the middle of an already suffering retail location.

Fortunately, we partnered with The Myers Group (MG), who were brought in to oversee the renovation and day-to-day management of the Goose. MG, headquartered locally in Clinton, manages many grocery stores in the Pacific Northwest. The space was completely gutted and cleaned. To save as much money as possible during difficult times, used equipment was purchased and the cement under the old flooring was buffed up and coated. (Many customers were quite pleased when new flooring was finally installed in 2015!)

In September 2009, the new Goose Community Grocer opened to much fanfare. However, it did take 5 years for the Goose to find financial stability and, eventually, enough profit for Goosefoot to begin giving back to the very community that shops there. Improvements are made regularly to enhance the shopping experience and to ensure a steadily growing customer base.

Since then, The Goose has become more than a grocery store: It is a gathering place, an essential service, a way for shoppers to directly support their neighbors, and a financial vehicle for investing broadly to build an sustain a thriving community. Its continued success is made possible by the community that shops there, works there, and believes in keeping local resources strong.

We appreciate our Goose customers and take pride in being a true community grocery store! Our annual Easter egg hunt and apple pie contest are great fun. You may encounter a local producer sample table or wine tasting while shopping. And every two years, we throw a huge customer appreciation party, featuring free food, live music, games, and contests. Thanks for shopping the Goose!

Visit the Goose Grocer website.