Is this you? Do you still have the costume? Inquiring minds want to know!
The Mysteries of the Co-op
The East End Food Co-op’s history is no mystery; it’s lovingly detailed on our website, but here are some fun facts about our little community-owned grocery...
David Zarembka, the progenitor of the Co-op, earned a degree in African Studies from Harvard and worked extensively for peace in Africa. He is credited with founding a school in East Africa, and authoring the book A Peace of Africa: Reflections on Life in the Great Lakes Region. David passed away in 2021 and is buried beside his late wife in Kenya.
Membership is now 100 times the original rate. In 1972, $1 bought you a membership to the East End Food Buying Club. We think it’s still a bargain!
The Co-op’s original storefront was
at 5474 Penn Avenue in Garfield. That address now belongs to the Pittsburgh Glass Center, a renowned non-profit, public-access school, gallery, and stateof-the-art studio dedicated to teaching, creating, and promoting glass art.
Though inactive for safety’s sake, the produce storage area (internally known as The Pit) has an incinerator — a remnant of the building’s industrial past.
The building that currently houses the Co-op, known as The Factory, was once home to the Auto Truck Equipment Company. Founded in 1920, they pioneered the design and fabrication of aluminum truck bodies and supplied companies such as the Keystone Grocery Company.
The Co-op’s location is now considered part of Rockwell Park,
which began as a 24-acre industrial park during the Progressive Era (roughly 1890s–1920s). Among the most prominent tenants was Rockwell Manufacturing Company, which specialized in parking and taxi cab meters. The campus also hosted business interests related to George Westinghouse and Thomas Edison.
The Co-op has had its share of radical neighbors over the years. The Factory was once home to Shady Skates, a beloved indoor skatepark that still elicits fond memories from veteran skateboarders. This space was adjacent to what is now Gymkhana.
Equally iconic was Gatto Cycles, a bicycle shop that carried the latest and greatest mountain bikes, in the space now rented by Pivot Physical Therapy. Gatto specialized in the brand Cannondale, who manufactured their innovative frames in nearby Bedford, Pennsylvania. Apparently we’re not the only ones who love local!
The Co-op has served as a filming location for several TV shows and movies, including the short-lived ABC sitcom Downward Dog.
The 2020 comedy-drama An American Pickle starring Seth Rogan featured a scene filmed at one of the Co-op’s checkout lanes. Though largely panned by critics, the film espouses the value of traditionally fermented pickles, a subject near and dear to Co-op shoppers.
In 1990, Jodie Foster was filmed right across the street from the Co-op, near the entrance to Commonplace Coffee, for a pivotal scene in The Silence of the Lambs.
Are you privy to a little-known fact about the Co-op? Email us at info@eastendfood.coop and we’ll choose a winner to receive a Co-op care package!
Board Corner
By Tom Pandaleon
Management Transition
Change is the only constant in life, and this adage applies to the Co-op, as well. In June, the board received a letter of resignation from Tyler Kulp, who had been serving as our general manager since April of 2024. He brought boundless energy and commitment to his position, and his friendly and open manner welcomed our community.
Tyler gave his all to the Co-op over the past 12 years. He started his journey as our café’s assistant manager and later managed the produce department. Tyler was promoted to store operations manager in late 2023, when our previous GM, Maura Holliday, resigned. Tyler served on the interim management team (IMT) after her departure, was hired as interim GM in April of 2024, and ultimately as permanent GM in November 2024.
As our GM Tyler was responsible for negotiating an advantageous extension to our current lease, overseeing a successful capital campaign that raised $250,000 in member equity, and commencing progress on our new three-year strategic plan.
We will miss Tyler, and Pittsburgh will be lighter by about 20,000 vinyl records when he heads to Bethlehem, PA. There he will help make the dream of opening a food co-op a reality for the eager co-op enthusiasts behind that effort.
Under our bylaws, an IMT composed of our seven department managers will assume day-to-day management of the store. Most of these managers are longstanding members of our management team and have participated on both of the most recent IMTs in 2018 and 2024. The board has full confidence in their individual capacities and expertise, as well as their track record of working together productively at times like these.
There are a number of initiatives that are underway that will require an effective transition period to maintain momentum. The implementation phase of our strategic plan has
The board voted 7–0 against a boycott of Israeli-sourced products, with one abstention.
gotten off to a good start, with the plan for physical changes to the store moving forward after completion of architectural plans generated by our consultants, and a lease compliance review undertaken by our lawyers. In addition, we are moving forward with equipment replacement projects, including refrigeration upgrades.
Another important matter on the horizon is the union contract negotiation coming up in March of 2027, covering the period through early 2030. With experienced hands on both sides of that negotiation, we look forward to maintaining our position as a successful business where employees want to work.
Product Boycott Decision
At the June 15th board meeting, following an advisory referendum vote, the board voted on the matter of whether or not the Co-op would implement a boycott of Israeli-sourced products in our store. Members familiar with the national co-op landscape may know that at least two other food coops around the country have had membership discussions and votes on the same matter.
Back in November 2025, at our annual meeting, the board received a valid member petition requesting a binding member referendum on the question. Over the course of the ensuing months the board conducted a number of research initiatives. These included an online survey where more
than 150 members offered thoughtful and informative comments, and a virtual special meeting facilitated by a third-party moderator. The board subsequently voted to proceed with an advisory referendum, with voting taking place online during the month of May.
A total of 611 members cast their votes: 308 (50.4%) voted in favor, 298 (48.8%) voted in opposition, and 5 (0.8%) were uncertain. The referendum vote represented approximately 4% of the Co-op’s membership.
The board ultimately voted against enacting a boycott of Israeli-sourced products. As fiduciaries, the board has a legal duty to safeguard the Co-op’s financial and operational stability. These include potential loss of revenue if members or customers choose to disengage, possible exposure to legal challenges, and the risk of affecting our eligibility for public programs such as SNAP that many members rely on (under Title 62 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, an anti-BDS law adopted in 2016).
The board recognizes that events in the Middle East are deeply concerning and that members hold a wide range of perspectives. Our role as a board is not to resolve these differences, but to ensure that the Co-op remains a welcoming, inclusive, and sustainable community resource for all. We believe it is possible to be true to our values while also respecting each other’s opinions and embracing our differences.
The boa rd of direc tors disc uss mat ters affec ting the Co -op, and make decisions that shape and guide policy. Visit our website for more i nformation on how you can get involved.
eastendfood.coop/board- of-direc tors
NA Blueberry Moscow Mule
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 2
Serving a non-alcoholic drink is a good way to make your parties more inclusive. Anyone can enjoy this juicy, blueberry-infused treat (but if people want a little booze, you can add a splash of vodka). It’s quick and easy to make, and kids like it, too.
Ingredients
{ 1/2 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen and thawed
{ 2 teaspoons sugar
{ 1/2 large lime
{ Ginger ale
{ Crushed ice
Preparation
Divide the berries into two Moscow Mule cups or two 12-ounce glasses, and sprinkle with sugar. Muddle or mash with a fork until all the berries are burst and juicy. Slice the lime half into four wedges. Squeeze one wedge into each glass, then add the remaining lime wedge and muddle.
Add about ½ cup crushed ice, then top with ginger ale to cover the ice. Stir briskly to mix and serve immediately.
Serving Suggestion
For a fun garnish, skewer a row of blueberries onto a toothpick or wooden skewer, trim as needed to fit your serving glasses and freeze. The berries are a delight to eat and help keep your drink cold.
GM Update
By Tyler Kulp, General Manager
Dear East End Food Co-op Community,
After more than a decade of produce pits, cheese wheels, compost bins, and mushroom barley vats, the time has come for me to ride the garbage barge on to my next adventure.
I joined EEFC in 2014 as a café employee. I made smoothies and LPTs (if you know, you know). I probably cooked close to a metric ton of Thanksgiving menu dishes. What I couldn’t have told you then was that I’d spend the next eleven years falling completely in love with this place — its messy, magnificent, member-owned, maze-like building, and its gloriously unique community.
From the café I moved to produce (a natural progression for someone with my sensibilities), then to operations, and finally — in January 2024 — to Interim General Manager, and GM. That arc isn’t a résumé flex. It’s the co-op working exactly as it’s supposed to: investing in people, promoting from within, and trusting that the person who knows where the miso is hidden probably knows a few other things too.
Together, we’ve done some genuinely remarkable things. We crossed $14 million in annual sales. We grew our membership to over 17,000. We signed a ten-year lease extension so this co-op has a longer runway to find a more permanent home. We negotiated a fair labor contract. We weathered snow storms, vendor cyberattacks, seemingly
endless Meade Street construction. We launched a capital campaign that asked member-owners to invest in our future — and you showed up. You always show up.
I will miss this management team, supervisory team, and bargaining unit staff more than I can adequately express in a professional letter. (And Leslie and Jessie of course, two of my favorite people in the world.) I’ll miss the members who bring their own bags and their strong opinions. I’ll miss the staff who make it run every single day with skill and care and occasionally a lot of patience. I’ll miss the board meetings. (I say that with complete sincerity and only mild therapy-voice.) I’ll even miss the produce ordering spreadsheets, which I will be taking into witness protection.
What I won’t be leaving behind is the cooperative movement itself. I’m headed to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where a community is working to open a food co-op of their own — and I get to help them do it. EEFC showed me what’s possible when people decide to own something together. That’s a lesson worth spreading.
Thank you for trusting me with this place. Thank you for being members — not merely customers, owners — and understanding the difference. Thank you for every kind word in the checkout line, every ballot cast, every jar of local honey purchased. You built this. I just got to help keep the lights on and the kombucha cold.
With deep gratitude, enormous affection, and a lifetime of co-op loyalty,
Marti recommends our house made Lemon Pepper Tofu Sandwich! Along with crunchy lettuce and creamy veganaise, the tofu is well-seasoned and its ciabattini bun is just the right size. Good for any meal of the day, it hits all the notes a sandwich should!
Matt’s staff pick is Cocojune Blueberry Lemonade! This organic plant-based yogurt makes for a quick, tasty, protein packed snack. Matt says, “All of the flavors taste great, but blueberry lemonade is where it’s at.”
Potting and Scheming
Thanks to everyone who sent a caption for last month's contest! We're pleased to announce the winner of our feline prize pack:
"Potting and scheming"
-Dominick D
The mighty lentil
Lentils are one of the world’s oldest pantry staples, and for good reason: they’re affordable, versatile, quick-cooking, and packed with nutrition. All lentils are rich in plant-based protein, fiber, iron, folate, and complex carbohydrates, making them a satisfying base for soups, salads, curries, grain bowls, and more.
At the East End Food Co-op, you’ll find several organic varieties in bulk, each with its own strengths. Red lentils cook quickly and break down into a soft texture, making them ideal for creamy soups, Indian dals, or simple weeknight curries. Brown lentils are the everyday workhorse: mild, earthy, and great for soups, veggie burgers, tacos, or shepherd’s pie.
Green lentils hold their shape well
when cooked and have a hearty texture perfect for grain salads and side dishes. French lentils (often called Lentilles du Puy) are smaller, firmer, and slightly peppery, making them especially good in warm salads or alongside roasted vegetables. Black lentils, sometimes called beluga lentils, are glossy, rich, and tender, with a subtle earthy flavor that pairs beautifully with mushrooms, garlic, and fresh herbs.
One of the best things about lentils is how easily they fit into everyday cooking. Add cooked lentils to pasta sauce for extra protein, toss them into salads, simmer them into soups, or serve them over rice with greens and a drizzle of olive oil. With minimal prep and big nutritional benefits, lentils are a simple way to build satisfying meals around whole foods.
2% discount on all daily purchases
10% quarterly discount on one transaction
Save up to 20% on cases via special order
The opportunity to run for the board
Voting privileges in Co-op elections
Access to the EEFC Federal Credit Union And more!
Lentils are the world’s oldest cultivated legume, likely domesticated around 7000 BCE.