It can be really hard to shop vegan online. It’s even harder to find vegan brick and mortar locations to visit in person. We’re always surrounded by carnivorous culture--even when we’re shopping for things other than food, like cosmetics, clothes, or accessories. It’s hard to sift through a saturated market to find products that are truly cruelty-free--but it’s not impossible! Veganism is a growing movement, and plenty of retailers are looking to cater to this popular lifestyle. Check out a few places across America leading the charge to make vegan shopping more accessible!
Nooch Vegan Market, Denver
Nooch is a small vegan store located in Denver, Colorado. Their mission is to help others create a lifestyle that frees animals from human influence and cruelty, and they’ve got a variety of products to make that possible. Nooch sells body care products, books on veganism, and prepared foods so you can eat well and help the planet on the go. The main focus, though, is the groceries--they have all sorts of innovative products, like jerky and even soft cheeses! They also have a soft-serve ice cream machine, so buying vegan can be a real treat!
Herbivore Clothing, Portland
Veganism is an entire lifestyle--it isn’t just about what you eat! Besides buying ‘rabbit food’ and meat substitutes, there are plenty of other ways to shop vegan. Started in a spare bedroom in 2002, Herbivore provides a wide range of fashionable vegan clothes and accessories including Doshi bags and wallets. Their storefront in Portland also sells vegan snacks and cookbooks, among lots of other things! Herbivore is just one vegan shop in what’s called the Vegan Mini-Mall, a collection of stores where you can get just about anything vegan--from baked goods to tattoos! It’s a one-stop shop for those serious about their cruelty-free lifestyle.
The Herbivorous Butcher, Minneapolis
It’s something that vegans and vegetarians hear all the time--”I could never live like you do, because I just love meat and cheese so much!” The Herbivorous Butcher aims to help even the most dyed-in-the-wool meat lovers buy vegan. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and headed up by siblings Aubry and Kale Walch, the Herbivorous Butcher prides itself on providing a wide range of delicious meat and cheese substitutes, from brats and sausages to cold cuts and even vegan steaks! They’re also opening up an all-vegan fried chicken restaurant soon, so give it a try if you’re in the area!
PlantX, Edmonton
The vegan movement isn’t just an American thing--it’s growing worldwide! For example, PlantX, the ‘vegan Amazon,’ has recently opened a brick-and-mortar location near Edmonton in Canada! The store is absolutely massive for a vegan store at 1,700 square feet--and yes, everything inside is vegan! They sell a wide line of grocery products—including pet food!—as well as personal care items like skincare products and prepared foods. This location also contains a restaurant, and a vertical garden to help supply it! But Americans shouldn’t feel left out--they’re planning to expand to California soon!
Get Shopping!
Buying vegan is easier now than it’s ever been--and that’s an amazing thing! Cruelty-free shopping options are popping up all over, making this lifestyle more and more accessible. These options are even available for products other than food, so your whole life can support environmental stewardship and cruelty-free causes! Get out there and get your vegan shop on!
