Where We Stand
An honest update on Smokin' Oaks — straight from us.
“When I first shared this page, I said we’d rather you hear the truth from us than from a headline.
That hasn’t changed.
Today, our retail market has closed.
While this chapter has come to an end, the mission that inspired Smokin’ Oaks has not.
From the beginning, we’ve believed our community deserves a food system built around regenerative agriculture, local farmers, clean food, transparency, and long-term stewardship. Those convictions remain as strong today as they were when we first opened our doors.
We continue to believe that pursuing a community-owned cooperative offers the strongest long-term path toward preserving and strengthening that mission. That’s the work we’re focused on now.
As things continue to evolve, we’ll keep this page updated. We’d rather you hear directly from us than wonder what’s happening.”
Where We Are Today
Our retail market on 8th Avenue has closed.
The decision to close the market was incredibly difficult, but it reflects the financial realities we shared throughout our Chapter 11 reorganization process.
While our retail operations have ended, our work has not.
Today our focus is on continuing to pursue a community-owned cooperative that reflects the mission Smokin' Oaks has always stood for.
Chapter 11
Chapter 11 remains an active legal reorganization process.
The closing of our retail market does not mean the Chapter 11 process has ended.
Rather, it represents one step within a broader effort to reorganize the business while continuing to pursue a sustainable path forward.
We'll continue providing updates as that process evolves.
What Hasn't Changed
The cooperative and the restructuring are separate. Some things have changed dramatically. Others haven't changed at all.
We still believe:
Healthy soil matters.
Regenerative agriculture matters.
Local farmers deserve stronger markets.
Transparency builds trust.
Communities benefit when they understand where their food comes from.
Long-term stewardship matters more than short-term convenience.
Those convictions continue to guide every decision we're making.
What We’re Seeing
Over the past several weeks, we've been deeply encouraged by the response from our community.
We've heard from families who made Smokin' Oaks part of their weekly routines.
From neighbors who discovered us while walking by. From customers who introduced friends and family to the market.
From people who simply believe local food is worth protecting.
We've also had the privilege of welcoming new Founding Members and continuing meaningful conversations with people who want to learn more about the cooperative.
Every conversation reminds us that this mission has always been about more than a market.
Our Path Forward
We're continuing to pursue a path toward a community-owned cooperative.
A cooperative is not simply a different ownership structure.
For us, it's a different way of thinking about the future of food—one where the community has the opportunity to help steward the mission alongside the people producing it.
Because we're still working through the cooperative transition, there are legal guidelines around what we can share publicly. That's why we invite anyone who wants to learn more to connect with us directly.
We're currently in our Founders Circle phase, welcoming our first 250 Founding Members before additional membership opportunities with different benefits and priorities become available.
Continue The Conversation
If you'd like to learn more about the cooperative, we'd love to continue the conversation.
Whether you're simply curious, exploring membership, or have questions about where we are today, we're happy to share what we can and help you understand the vision we're pursuing.