Founded by Jennifer Karmin and Kathleen Duffy in 2009, the Dill Pickle Food Co-op is a vibrant community resource in Logan Square. Located in the heart of the neighborhood, the Dill Pickle is community-owned, although anyone--regardless of location--can join in on the ownership. Offering sustainable, healthy, and organic food choices, the Co-op was originally founded in response to the lack of healthy food options in Logan Square. Serving the community, the Dill Pickle operates under a set of core principles, including voluntary and open ownership, democratic member control, economic participation, and autonomy.
Now, the name “Dill Pickle” doesn’t exactly seem like a typical title for a community food co-op. However, the story behind the co-op’s name makes perfect sense once one sees its connection to Chicago’s radical leftist past. In 1914, John “Jack” Jones--a popular figure in Chicago’s anarchist community--opened up the Dill Pickle Club, a speakeasy populated by gangsters, prostitutes, activists, and scholars alike. Prior to opening the club, Jones held regular meetings where he would discuss issues relating to social justice and labor. Once those meetings reached capacity, Jones went ahead and opened the Dill Pickle Club. While somewhat less public, the Dill Pickle Club served as a community resource of sorts, hosting everything from lectures on women’s rights to jazz performances to class-inclusive masquerade balls.