The corner of 13 Broad Street in New London will be a busier place than usual on Saturday February 7th, 2026, as Fiddleheads Food Co-op marks its 18th year with a day-long birthday celebration.
The co-op began with a small winter farmers market and grew over nearly two decades into a full-service grocery store rooted in local food and community support. More than 4,000 households now hold ownership in the co-op, making it a unique retail fixture in southeastern Connecticut’s downtown core.
Plans for the anniversary event run from 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M., stretching the length of the co-op’s regular opening hours. Organizers have outlined activities that aim to reflect how the store has evolved, a cluster of local vendors, live music, simple games, and food offerings drawn from nearby farms and artisans. The scale and variety of offerings speak to both the co-op’s position in the year-round shopping patterns of residents and its role as a gathering spot for neighborhood events.
New London’s downtown has seen incremental shifts in recent years, with small businesses and event-oriented venues taking root amidst offices and cultural institutions near the waterfront. Fiddleheads sits just blocks away from ferry terminals, libraries, and the Garde Arts Center, places that generate foot traffic at varying points of the day. Its presence at a central intersection of Broad Street and Governor Winthrop Boulevard makes it a visible part of the city’s everyday life, whether customers are stopping in for groceries or pausing to browse at vendor table setup along the sidewalk for community events.
The co-op’s internal operations are distinctive. Unlike corporate grocery chains, Fiddleheads is structured as a cooperative and is owned and governed by a board elected from its membership base. Ownership gives individuals a voice in store governance and access to member-specific promotions and sales, though all shoppers are welcome regardless of co-op status. The store emphasizes local and organic products, pulling from more than 90 Connecticut farms and businesses in its produce, grocery, and prepared foods departments.
Over 18 years, the co-op has expanded its physical footprint, its selections, and its role in community life. The birthday celebration is designed to acknowledge that arc with neighbors and partners who have contributed to the store’s growth. On the day of the anniversary, familiar aisles of fresh produce, baked goods, wellness items, and general groceries will continue to operate alongside special activities. For many residents, the party will be an occasion to revisit a familiar place and to recognize a business model that stands apart from most regional grocery chains.
(847) 277-9500