Shopping options include hot foods, produce

At Wheatsville Food Co-op's new South Lamar Boulevard location, the retail food cooperative offers a variety of shopping options—from a hot-foods bar and deli to a mix of bulk and packaged ingredients consumers can purchase to make their own meals at home.

Wheatsville, established in 1976, opened its South Lamar location Sept. 20. Employees of local businesses and students from nearby schools flock to Wheatsville daily for snacks, meals from the hot-foods bar and baked goods from the on-site artisan bakery, Brand Manager Raquel Dadomo said.

"Folks have been asking for a Wheatsville in South Austin for a long time," Dadomo said, adding the store noticed a trend of residents migrating from Central to Southwest Austin. The local customer base has continued to grow, and Dadomo said the store's dining area has been popular.

Customers can order food and eat it in the store's dining room or outside at picnic tables. Dadomo said the co-op plans to add more picnic tables outside.

The co-op has owners who invest capital in the organization and receive discounts and the right to vote for members of the board of directors. There are about 60 employees at Wheatsville's South Lamar location, about 30 of whom are devoted to food production.

Menu items include popcorn tofu po'boys, falafel pitas, organic rice and beans, breakfast tacos and made-to-order sandwiches. Smoothies and organic, fair-trade coffee drinks are also available, according to Fresh Manager Dana Tomlin, who oversees the store's food production.

Made-from-scratch menu items include tempeh chili, tikka masala and fresh salads.

"One of the things I try really hard to do is keep these simple, affordable options for people," Tomlin said.

Bake house

An in-house artisan bakery on the site of Wheatsville Co-op's South Lamar Boulevard store makes fresh bread daily and will eventually serve both Wheatsville locations.

The 2,500-square-foot bake house makes not only muffins and desserts such as pecan pies, but also a variety of breads.

The bake house makes about 15 different types of bread, including:

• Whole wheat sandwich bread
• Baguettes
• Sourdough boules
• Jalapeo cheddar
• Whole wheat walnut

Co-op owners give back

Throughout December, Wheatsville is collecting nonperishable food items such as canned goods for the Capital Area Food Bank, a local hunger-relief nonprofit organization.

Starting in January, Wheatsville will host a children's book drive for People's Community Clinic. The nonprofit health care facility is seeking donations of English- and Spanish-language children's books.

Donation bins will be located at entrances of both Wheatsville locations.

Hot-foods bar schedule

Wheatsville Food Co-op's prepared foods bar operates on a theme schedule.

• Monday—Tex-Mex
• Tuesday—Italian
• Wednesday—Holiday/comfort food
• Thursday—Indian
• Friday—Catfish or wings
• Saturday—Comfort food
• Sunday—Brunch

The schedule varies day to day; more details about daily menus are available by calling the Guadalupe Street location at 512-478-2667 or the South Lamar Boulevard location at 512-814-2888.

Wheatsville Food Co-op, 4001 S. Lamar Blvd., Ste. B., 512-814-2888, www.wheatsville.coop, Twitter: @Wheatsville