Once upon a time…
Mary and Jac saw a need in the community for a grocery dedicated to supporting local farmers and food makers. They wanted to be able to buy local cheese, fruits and vegetables at any given moment, not just on Saturdays during farmers market seasons. In early 2011 they left their jobs at an environmental nonprofit to pursue the opening of the neighborhood grocery store, bakery, and cafe that you see today, dedicated to making and selling great food primarily sourced from people in our community. All food has a story, and they lived to tell it. As a frequent bike commuter passionate about the importance of walkability to a vibrant community, Mary sought out a home that was safely accessible by bike, foot, or car, and with those conditions in mind she stumbled upon an abandoned building on Cedar Lane Rd. Formerly a meat processing facility and at one point slated to become a scrap metal yard, the property, located on the newly opened section of the Swamp Rabbit Trail, was saved from a life of metal and machines by Scott McCrary. Mary and Jac convinced Scott to renovate the building for their business idea, and Scott not only became their best customer, but he also became a mentor and played a crucial role in the opening of the Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery.
Jac and Mary took out a small loan and depleted their life savings to open the Swamp in September 2011 amidst an economic recession. Initially, the store had no employees, with only Mary, a very pregnant Jac, and their respective husbands running the cafe and grocery from a small 1200sf space. Mary developed many of the bakery, coffee, and lunch offerings still served today, while Jac focused on construction and buying. Every few years, the Swamp would run out of space and take on more on the property, Jac and Mary would take turns having children, and in the meantime the Swamp kept adding new employees, farmers, and customers to their family. Currently the Swamp is proud to buy from over 300 local farmers and food makers, and spends on average more than $200,000 a month on buying local - that’s money that keeps small family farmers and food makers in business, and money that stays in our community. The Swamp prioritizes good food from real people above all else, and is truly a community-driven business that puts people over profits.
All of this work has culminated to create the Swamp that you see today. Instead of a giant parking lot, you’ll see families and friends enjoying time together at a picnic table, kids playing in our misfit toy garden, farmers delivering watermelons, and people maximizing their time outdoors. All food has a story. We live to share that story and not only connect people with where their food comes from, but also to connect people around food. When you visit the Swamp, we not only want you to experience great food and customer service provided by our amazing team, we also want you to run into your neighbor, make a new friend, or even better, run into your local tomato grower. Learn more about our farmers here.
Our mission is to buy, sell and cook with fresh, local food to support a sustainable food system and provide a community space where people come together to celebrate meals.
Swamp in the News
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