Neechi Foods Co-op operated Neechi Foods Community Store for 23 years prior to opening the Neechi Commons in March of 2013. Neechi Commons sold a variety of speciality products, in – house prepared foods, Aboriginal Arts store, Bakery and a Grocery store.
In 2018 Neechi Commons closed its doors due to a large debt and failing sales. The Jubilee Fund provided a loan guarantee for Neechi Commons to put a down payment on the property that the store was built on.
While it has been a five year struggle for Neechi Commons to reach financial success, Neechi Commons has been successful in achieving its social goals employing and training over 45 individuals of First Nations background who are now employable. Neechi Commons also set out to improve access to healthy food in the Point Douglas Community which was accomplished and has also drawn attention to the Inner – city food desert issue.
In 2016 Neechi Commons conducted a Social Return on Investments (SROI) study that suggested that for every dollar invested into supporting the social objectives of the co-op, $4.70 is seen in social returns and reduced spending in Government services that support low income people.
