Nick's Non-Profit Grocery
Groceries at Cost.
Dignity Always.
We're building a grocery store where every neighbor can afford to eat well, with no markup, no membership fees, and no judgment.
Give today to open Nick's, serving communities with dignity.
Food is a human right, not a commodity.
At Nick's, we believe no one should struggle to afford basic groceries. That is why we are building a different kind of grocery store.
At Nick's, food is sold at cost. The price you pay reflects what the food actually costs, not a markup designed to generate profit. Every dollar spent goes back into keeping food on the shelves through our Revolving Food Fund.
We believe dignity means having real choice. Our stores are full-service grocery stores where people can shop like any other store, choose what they need, and access food without judgment, scarcity, or restriction.
What Problems Are We Addressing?
The Reality of Food Access
Food insecurity remains a persistent challenge in Colorado, but it looks different depending on where you live. In many communities, access to food is not based on need, but on purchasing power, leaving entire areas without consistent access to affordable, healthy groceries.
Rural Barriers
In rural communities like Gilpin County, geographic isolation, limited transportation, and a lack of full-service grocery stores force residents to travel long distances for basic groceries. This creates ongoing barriers to reliable food access, especially for seniors, families, and those without transportation.
Urban Inequities
In Denver, rising food and housing costs, gentrification, and systemic inequities have created neighborhoods where affordable, healthy food is limited or unavailable. Many residents are left relying on convenience stores and fast food instead of full-service grocery options.
A Broken System
Across both rural and urban communities, traditional grocery models often overlook areas with lower purchasing power. This creates gaps that food banks and short-term solutions cannot fully solve, leaving many without consistent, reliable access to food.
A Different Approach
Nick's exists to close this gap. We are building a model that provides affordable, reliable, and dignified access to food in both rural and urban communities, ensuring people can shop for what they need without barriers, limitations, or judgment.
Our model
Built to Reach Both Rural and Urban Communities
Nick's operates through a Hub and Market model designed to serve both rural and urban communities. Hubs are larger, full-service grocery stores, typically around 4,000 to 5,000 square feet, with an additional 3,000 square foot commissary kitchen and about 2,000 square feet of storage. These locations act as central hubs for inventory, food preparation, and community programs, providing the infrastructure needed to support consistent and reliable food access.
Markets are smaller neighborhood grocery stores, typically around 2,000 to 3,000 square feet, designed for areas where space is limited, particularly in dense urban neighborhoods. They provide essential groceries, culturally relevant products, and a full-service shopping experience in a more compact footprint.
Hubs and Markets work together as one connected system. Hubs support Markets through storage, distribution, and coordination, including the packing of subscription grocery boxes and the movement of goods between locations. This allows Nick's to extend access beyond a single store and reach both dense urban neighborhoods and rural communities.
By combining larger Hub locations with smaller neighborhood Markets, Nick's creates a flexible and scalable model that brings affordable, reliable food access closer to where people live.
How We're Funded
Nick's Revolving Food Fund
The Revolving Food Fund is what allows Nick's to sell food at cost while keeping shelves consistently stocked. Instead of marking up groceries for profit, we use a dedicated fund to purchase inventory and keep it moving.
The fund is structured in two parts. One half is used to stock the store with a full range of groceries, while the other half is held in reserve to continuously reorder products as they are sold. When a customer makes a purchase, that money goes directly back into the fund to replace the food on the shelf.
This creates a continuous cycle where food is purchased, sold at cost, and replenished without relying on profit. It allows us to maintain affordability while ensuring reliable access to groceries.
Because of this model, fundraising is not used to inflate food prices or sustain inventory. Instead, donations and grants support store development, staffing, and community programs, allowing the food itself to remain as affordable as possible.
The Revolving Food Fund is how Nick's turns grocery shopping into a system that sustains itself while putting access and dignity first.
Where We're Starting
Gilpin County Hub
HubArea: Near Rollinsville
Gilpin County has no permanent full-service grocery store, and many residents must travel long distances to access basic food. Mountain geography, limited transportation, and scattered communities make consistent grocery access difficult. This Hub will serve as a central location to provide reliable, affordable food and support surrounding mountain communities.
Central City Market
MarketArea: Central City
Central City is a small mountain town with no existing grocery store and limited food options for both residents and local workers. This Market brings essential groceries directly into the community, reducing the need to travel outside the area for basic needs.
Ward Market
MarketArea: Ward
Ward is a remote, high-altitude mountain community with unique access challenges and limited nearby food resources. Long distances, weather conditions, and isolation make reliable grocery access difficult. This Market provides a consistent, local option for essential food and household needs.
Coal Creek Canyon Market
MarketArea: Coal Creek Canyon
Coal Creek Canyon is a commuter-heavy mountain community where residents often travel long distances for groceries. Limited nearby options and long drive times make consistent access difficult. This Market provides a closer, reliable option for everyday food needs.
Aurora Hub
HubArea: South Denver Area
Aurora is one of the most diverse areas in Colorado, with many families facing rising living costs and increasing pressure on food budgets. This Hub will provide a full-service grocery store with affordable, culturally relevant food, while supporting surrounding neighborhoods through distribution, programs, and community services.
Elyria–Swansea Market
MarketArea: Elyria–Swansea
Elyria–Swansea has long faced limited access to affordable grocery stores despite being a strong and established community. This Market brings consistent, full-service grocery access into the neighborhood with food that reflects the community’s needs and culture.
North Pecos / Globeville Market
MarketArea: North Pecos / Globeville
North Pecos and Globeville are working-class neighborhoods where affordable grocery options are limited and access can be inconsistent. This Market provides essential groceries in a convenient location, supporting residents with reliable and affordable food options.
Help Build Nick's
Nick's is building a new kind of grocery store, one that puts people before profit and makes food more affordable for everyone. We are actively working to open our first locations and expand access to communities that need it most.
You can be part of this. Your support helps fund store development, community programs, and the systems that keep food affordable and accessible.
Whether you donate, partner with us, or share our mission, you are helping build something that changes how communities access food.