Nirvana Grille Turns Itself Into a Co-Op

In the weeks leading up to the state mandated shelter-in-place order, many were focusing on work, family, and toilet paper (or the lack thereof). Like most people, Nirvana Grille’s Chef Lindsay was walking the aisles of her local grocery store in astonishment. Stocked shelves with a profundity of options that all Americans take for granted were suddenly bare. 

Then an idea sparked -- she had direct access to food and supplies, so why not share this with her community? Just two days after the state order limiting the congregation of groups exceeding 250 people, Chef Lindsay had instituted a co-op for Laguna Beach and its surrounding communities. 

Creating a Shopify site with pantry staples, she pulled some all-nighters to offer fairly priced items that people sorely needed. The community responded with an overwhelming 250 messages and 40 orders in the first day of launching. 

Building out a new platform and concept with many moving parts while simultaneously keeping up with demand, Chef Lindsay admits she had little sleep in the first week. This feat seems even more astounding when taking into account that this went from concept to reality in two days with just two people. 

In a time when many chains and owner-operated restaurants made the decision to slow down or close, Chef Lindsay chose to expand.

Growing up in Laguna Beach, Chef Lindsay was fortunate to have access to a wide array of fresh food year-round. Her family would go to their local co-op in the Canyon to stock up on necessities not always found in mainstream grocery stores. 

The co-op concept has proven effective across several centuries and communities, reaching a second wave in the 1970’s when members leveraged community resources to gain access to whole, unrefined foods. With a focus on unprocessed foods, the co-op mentality was a predecessor to the natural food industry, which reached its zenith with Whole Foods Market. This model is a perfect fit for the current situation, where the shortages seen in larger grocery store chains can be offset by a different supply chain that thrives on a locavore mentality, seasonality, and interdependence.    

The Nirvana Co-Op provides the community with a total of 207 products with staples such as eggs, milk, and a fan favorite: avocados. New products are added daily based on community request. If there is a need that’s not being met that another vendor in the community can offer, Chef Lindsay will reach out to see if they would like to be a part of her mission. 

The Co-Op is truly a community coming together, with options ranging from Shirley’s Bagels to locally-made cloth masks. Chef Lindsay personally delivers the orders during the day so those who are unable to leave home can have a hot meal or a box to create a family meal. 

Despite the media frenzy around a meat shortage, she has not seen a surge in ordering meat, however at the beginning of the quarantine she did see a majority of orders for bulk chicken and canned food items. 

The current trend has moved away from “doomsday shopping” and the focus is now on fresh foods and produce. 

Chef Lindsay has learned to enjoy this decompressed time by allowing herself the luxury and freedom to cook with more joy and experimentation. When asked about the future, her energy does not wane. She knows there will be differences when restaurants open back up and is working on changes to her dining room layout to ensure customer comfort and safety, but at the same time, continues to see opportunity. 

Many members of the community have commented that the quality of products provided through the Co-Op outpace the quality at local grocery stores and are looking forward to this being offered long term. Chef Lindsay is open to this and is also working on Grill Kits, Mother’s Day Kits, and a Zoom Cooking class so that families and businesses do not miss out on important celebrations during this time. 

The days of shelter in place continue to be a mix of repetition and uncertainty, but the ability to embrace change and find opportunity is something worth cultivating long into the future.