Winnipeggers who live in the Exchange District are getting an early Christmas present this year - a neighbourhood grocery store and deli.

Sacco & Vanzetti's is the latest venture of the workers' collective which runs Mondragón Bookstore and Coffeehouse, a business that, in its 13 years of operation, has come to be known as much for its radical politics as its all-vegan menu.

Mondragón's existing location (91 Albert St.) has been remodeled to accommodate the new store, which offers canned and packaged goods, bulk foods and a year-round selection of fresh produce.

In keeping with the collective's commitment to providing sustainable, socially responsible alternatives, the products sold at Sacco & Vanzetti's are organic, fairly traded and sourced locally as much as possible. In the summer, for example, Mondragón purchases fresh vegetables from the Landless Farmers Collective, a small group that grows organic produce on under-used urban land (this past summer, it farmed a plot in front of the Pan Am Pool on Grant Avenue) and delivers it via bicycle.

And yes, everything at Sacco & Vanzetti's is vegan, too - including the assortment of sauces and take-away options available from the in-store deli.

The store's name is Mondragón's "homage to anarchism," says collective member Esan Azore. Ferdinando Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were Italian-born, working-class Americans who were executed in Massachusetts in 1927 for armed robbery and murder. Both men belonged to a radical anarchist group and claimed throughout their trial that they were being unfairly persecuted because of their political beliefs; their execution sparked protests and worker walkouts throughout the U.S. and Europe.

Azore says the collective sees the store as the next logical extension of the services already offered by Mondragón, and he thinks it will be a valuable asset to the neighbourhood.

"I think it's really necessary for us to be down here, just to at least have that option for people who care about that aspect of their food," he says.

"I feel this place is a little bit of a hub - you hang out, you eat food, you pick up your groceries. We want this space to be open and foster that sense of community for everyone."

Sacco & Vanzetti's opens as the residential population of the Exchange District continues to grow. Approximately 1,000 people now live in the area, says Jarrett Storey, marketing and communications manager for the Exchange District Biz - a number he notes has doubled since the 2006 census was conducted.

Until now, those who live in the Exchange have had few options in terms of nearby grocery stores, and have had leave the district to shop at The Forks, in the basement of The Bay, or in Chinatown.

However, in addition to serving local residents (as well as the considerably larger day-time population, made up of students and office workers), Storey thinks the new store - and the specialized niche it fills - will likely draw people into the Exchange from around the city.

Sacco & Vanzetti's has been up and running since May, but the store's official grand opening will be celebrated on Saturday, Dec. 19, with an all-day party.

Things kick off at 10 a.m. with an all-you-can-eat brunch. Free food samples will be offered throughout the day, and a variety of workshops will be held throughout the afternoon, including recipe demonstrations and a Jeopardy-style game about food politics. The evening will feature a bistro dinner, followed by live music and DJs.