Does anyone here remember those cool little "health food" stores in the seventies?

[essme]

The ones that had homemade things like soap, and lotion....sold vegan sandwiches....and bulk food such as split peas, flour, nutritional yeast, etc?

You would walk in, and the gentle, light smell of sandlewood and patchouli would greet you as you entered?

IF you could....would you shop in one again? This is a serious question, btw--- I am thinking of opening one.

[Rorey]

1. I would definitely shop in one again NT

[Tom Rinaldo]

2. I do, and I would to an extent anyway

But some folks might feel more wary of buying bulk food during a pandemic, so there's that.

[essme]

7. Oh, I wouldn't have the money

to for a couple more years of savings.

TONS of folks here in a large city in NC are buying bulk products at Whole Foods.

[nilram]

119. I'd think there would be some stores like that around Asheville

but I’ve only passed through there.

The 70s are still alive here in Portland. All are co-ops, but the public can shop at them as well as the members. Members can get a discount, and/or do some work to get additional discounts or privileges. The co-op model ensures interested customers.

Whether or not you go down the co-op path, these are going concerns that could match up to some degree with your expected customer base.

People’s Food Coop. Very much what you describe. It’s been surviving for decades, in spite of being a small store. https://www.peoples.coop/

Food Front is similar, but a larger operation. They had two locations here in town, but had to pull back from their second, smaller one. More of a small grocery. https://foodfront.coop/

Oh, and I just remembered a third one—Know Thy Food. The newest of the group. Interesting because they had online ordering and catalog sales even before the current crisis. Order pickups a couple days a week, and a market/cafe 6 or 7 days a week. http://knowthyfood.coop/

Good luck!

[cilla4progress]

3. That's where we've been shopping.

Love it.

However, do they do carry expensive locally-produced items, which I am a sucker for.

Spent $600 on our first pandemic grocery shopping trip there!

Oh well...I considered it partially a donation to local business and small local producers!

[essme]

11. What area of the country are you in?

Please just be general--- I don't need a town name-

[cilla4progress]

49. Washington state

east side of the state.

[plimsoll]

76. I suspect it's close to a certain Masonic Temple.

[cilla4progress]

135. ummm...

????

[essme]

162. Thank you for being general

and not specific. I am so horrified by the number of folks that will willingly give away personal information on sites such as these-

I am surely enjoying what folks are writing- the memories of a bygone era that I am hoping comes back.

[RKP5637]

4. Yes! n/t

[Demovictory9]

5. I remember them in the 80s. One was a membership one... paid a fee to join. Very hippy place

still shop in them but their are mutli-store corporate owned places now. One is family owned but they have about 10 locations about So. Cali

[RockCreek]

6. They still exist

In a few places, I think. There is at least one in Santa Cruz, CA -- the Herb Room/Food Bin.

[GreenPartyVoter]

15. We have food co-ops and single owner stores like that in Maine.

[essme]

19. This is a cute one on the west coast

one of my favorites:

http://www.bandonbythesea.com/mothers/mother.htm

[flibbitygiblets]

107. Of course they still exist. Have you BEEN to the west coast?

You can't swing a bag of burning sage without hitting on in Eugene, OR. Also can be found in many coastal towns throughout the west coast.

[essme]

125. I lived in OR, before I moved home

to NC-

And I lived there in the '90's (Have you seen Portlandia?)

The MOST fun in Oregon was exploring those little seaside towns-- Bandon is my personal favorite....oh, those fresh Dungeoness crabs!!

[Zoonart]

8. I would absolutely shop at one.

I fondly remember one in New Hope PA called Touch The Earth. There through the late 70s thru early 90s. It was very community oriented and I met lots of really cool people there.

[essme]

14. I LOVE New Hope!

Did you know Margaret Meade spent her youth there? She wrote about it in Blackberry Winter.

New Hope is gorgeous-

[Zoonart]

27. It is really beautiful.

I lived there for 24 years before moving to New York State. My kids and grands are there. Planning to move back soon as Mr. Retires.

[Wounded Bear]

9. I actually like the idea of local merchants and producers...

We've lost a lot.

[GreenPartyVoter]

20. Wish we could decentralize. So many small towns like ours can't fill basic needs.

To do a large grocery shopping, get clothes, hardware supplies, prescriptions we have to drive a minimum of 20min to a slightly larger town, or 45 to good size towns with more than one store.

[Wounded Bear]

23. Yep, we've Walmarted our country...

I'm a suburbanite, so it doesn't affect me much. I still kind of miss the small family shops, though.

Quite a lot fewer grocery stores than there used to be.

[kcr]

28. I live in a small town with a few local mom and pops

I'm very worried about them.

[Nictuku]

10. Absolutely!

[badseedboy]

12. emphatically yes! {nt}

[Peacetrain]

13. In a heartbeat!! we have wonderful local co-ops now where I live

that also give that feeling. But I remember one wonderful health food store in the mall no less in Sioux City.. They had this great shredded carrot and raisin sandwich that I make to this day. I would be there every day if you had good coffee too!.. I miss that compaionship of the smaller store. Good Luck!!!!!

[demmiblue]

16. The one I remember fondly was from the early 90's.

Yes, I would shop there occasionally.

[Xipe Totec]

17. We shop at Sprouts. It's a health food chain

https://shop.sprouts.com/

https://about.sprouts.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Sprouts_Media_Kit_022020.pdf

[SWBTATTReg]

18. Yes, we have such a shop near us...a pretty good little place, ...

Local Harvest Grocery

3108 Morgan Ford Road in Saint Louis. Open every day, 8 AM-8 PM.

[totodeinhere]

21. Some of those are still around.

Yes, franchises such as GNC are more prevalent now, but there are a few mom and pop shops left. There is one in my small town actually.

[ehrnst]

22. Co-ops... the smell of Celestial Seasonings Roastaroma Mocha tea hung in the air

That is still the smell of the '70's for me...

[mopinko]

24. they are actually opening a co-op grocery store in my hood.

or they were before this all happened. i imagine it wont hurt the effort, just make more spaces available when the time comes.
local food/small food is a big thing where i live. we dont call it "the people's republic" for nuthin.

i am having a busy and successful spring, and hoping for a great summer growing food. my peeps are already scarfing up the plants that i am selling. i dont know what is gonna happen this summer, except that people are gonna really need my food.

[Heartstrings]

25. There's still a few out there...

I just ordered some hull less, organic popcorn for my air popper from the shop I frequented before I moved 2 hours South. Store is in an older house, staff is super friendly, and no shipping charge on the order. They cater to the locals for organic and grass fed products.

[Hekate]

26. I thought they never went away, as Santa Barbara has 3 Natural Cafes, & one opened out into...

...a patchouli-scented shop such as you describe. I don't know if the latter shop remains since of late years it's gotten so much harder to just stroll for recreation along State Street. However the other 2 cafes are right next to movie theaters my friends and I liked, so we often ate lunch there.

Health food stores such as you describe also still exist. I think it just depends on where you look.

Best of luck!

[Wounded Bear]

33. More likely about where you live...

No offense, but Santa Barbara is kinda the heart of yuppie ville.

Small towns around the country have had their commercial bases hollowed out by Walmart incursions.

[dameatball]

29. Yes, I would. Go for it!

[33taw]

30. Yes, we use a small coop.

[Turin_C3PO]

31. Yes, there is still one where I live.

It’s in southwest New Mexico.

[essme]

36. What a gorgeous area of the country

Love NM--- Last time we drove through, we stopped at one of those tourist trap gift shops (Don't judge, I love those things, and still wear moccasins because of those)...and I bought a fake "branding iron" in the shape of NM. It's still in my living room ....we are in NC-

[panader0]

111. Silver City? One of my favorite little towns.

[Turin_C3PO]

120. Yes, you guessed it.

It’s not bad for a small town. We’re one of the few rural areas that votes overwhelmingly Democratic.

[peacebuzzard]

157. Would like to drive that way since Great Lakes airways went out of business.

Silver City is one of those places you have to drive forever to get there. I suppose similar to Santa Rosa. although Santa Rosa is close to the interstate. maybe 20 miles away. Silver City is over 60 miles on desert roads or more I think.
I really like New Mexico. You live in paradise.

[SharonClark]

32. We have one of those long-time independent shops - and the regional chain also has stand alone

"health markets" so it must still be popular around here (Des Moines, Iowa).

[Mossfern]

34. Yes!

The ones in my area were crowded out by Whole Foods.
It's a completely different experience.
As a matter of fact I miss the local hardware store where the proprietor could find any sort of weird nail or screw within seconds looking through his little box drawers. I miss the local bakery and butcher butcher. I'm fortunate to live in a small suburban town where people can walk to the main street. I miss the sense of community that these small businesses engendered.

[Retrograde]

35. The ones around here had little food

lots of herbal extracts, supplements, "essential" oils - more bottles of pills and capsules than most pharmacies. Some bulk grains and beans, but not much in the way of fresh produce, if any. There's still one around, but I haven't been to it in ages.

[essme]

38. So, local fresh produce

would be a game changer for you?

What about an herb garden in the front where you could pick your own for a "donation?" (or like .50 cents per "bundle&quot

[Retrograde]

159. There are a few locally-owned grocery stores

around here with very good produce selections - several notches above Safeway - as well as bulk items like beans and grains. Some even stock herb plants (not that they're hard to grown here - in this Mediterranean climate they grow like weeds). IMHO, one reason a lot of the old-style co-ops are gone is because they won: what they used to specialize in is now mainstream.

My big objection, as I stated in my previous post, is that a lot of them stock more pills and potions than a drugstore. As one of the posters downthread mentions, it's a big profit center, but it's not what I like to see in a so-called health store.

[Thomas Hurt]

37. My hometown had a couple, still has one but of course the grocery chains and Walmart has stuff too.

[essme]

39. Grocery stores and Walmart

Do not carry locally made, small batch soaps and lotions-- or local honeys. There is a small shop in Charlotte, NC that has a guy that makes and sells wild mushroom cooking oils, and they are heavenly.

[sueunderh]

40. Maine has many of them

Maine has many of those little health food stores. Food co-ops too.

[jalan48]

41. We have several where I live. Food Co-ops are great too.

[musette_sf]

42. In Fremont CA one of them still exists

No sandwiches, but the rest of it is completely like the 70s.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/fremont-natural-foods-healing-fremont

[northoftheborder]

43. I remember and miss the Pot-pouri (sp.?) I haven't seen any in years.

[brooklynite]

44. Come to Brooklyn Heights and shop at PERELANDRA...

https://www.perelandranatural.com

[Alliepoo]

45. Oh gosh, yes!!

Spring Wheat- was in a little alley downtown. I worked as an operator for Ma Bell and loved to walk over for my lunch on warm summer days. It was my first experience with smoothies. My fave was called Venus Vision. It was strawberries, bananas, papaya juice, protein powder and ice all whipped up. It was delicious! It’s been many moons ago, but I still remember. And I would adore shopping there again!!!

[Maru Kitteh]

46. There are several here in rural Montana. I shop in them all the time. nt

[ashredux]

47. Absolutely....got my first Fresh Carrot juice drink...1977

I was living in LA area...it was on Venture Ave.....the guy has bags and bags of carrots
Small little store....

[Liberal In Texas]

48. In the 80s and it was called Whole Foods and it was run by a bunch of hippies.

How times have changed.

[ashredux]

51. I used to shop at #1...on Lamar Blvd. Now they have the "Mother Ship" just down the street...

[Blue_true]

137. Did that become the Whole Foods? I thought that the owner before Bezos bought it was a

Libertarian type.

[TexasBushwhacker]

147. John Mackey - Yes he is a Libertarian and strongly anti-union

I worked at Whole Foods from 2005 to 2010 at their distribution center in Austin and was there when they bought out Wild Oats, which there were forced to sell for anti-trust reasons.

[Blue_true]

149. Why did he succeed in building a large company?

A person like that seems to be at complete odds with his customer base.

[TexasBushwhacker]

160. Yeah, kinda crazy

He isn't just libertarian, he's authoritarian. He was infuriated about the Affordable Care Act because he just didn't like being told what to do.

Pre ACA, they had pretty good health insurance EXCEPT it didn't cover mental health. They let employees vote on how the benefits pie was divided up, but because most of the employees worked in the stores, they always voted for a hefty store discount (20%) over mental health benefits. But on the plus side, part time workers got health insurance, it just took them longer to qualify for it. You got coverage once you worked 500 hours. For full timers, that took about 3 months. For part timers, it took closer to 6 months.

All in all, Mackey was a mixed bag. He did some good things and some bad. Since the company has been taken over by Amazon, I think it's changed a lot. Hardly any of my friends still work there.

[csziggy]

50. Here, the has been a locally owned co-operative store that does all those things

Plus emphasizes organic and locally grown produce, meats, and dairy products. They began as a bulk food cop back in the late 1960s and have developed over the years to include a deli. They even have a bulk herb and spices section supplied by local herd growers.

Unfortunately, they attempted an expansion with a second store that was not successful. In order for the option to survive they have sold out to a national food coop. It's too bad, but they had a long run as an independent co-operative.

[evilhime]

52. Yup...

As it is I shop in a local co-op especially for their (often locally sourced) supplements organic soaps etc.

[Trueblue Texan]

53. I buy my milk

For kefir in one of those. While I’m there I also shop for other interesting healthy stuff

[CrispyQ]

54. I miss Crystal Market on Pearl Street - a vegetarian market.

It's been gone so long I almost forgot about it. Thanks for the reminder.

[diane in sf]

55. I shop at the Raibow Grocery in SF all the time. It's an employee owned co-op.

Started tiny in the 70s. Wonderful organic food, bulk all sorts of things from sauerkraut, pasta, fruit, nuts, seaweed, flour, grains, beans. Lots of good brands of packaged food. Local organic produce, dairy, and baked goods. My idea of food heaven. Tho I have to go to other stores for meat.

[alwaysinasnit]

67. Sorry, I didn't see your post until after I submitted mine.

[littlemissmartypants]

56. Like this?

http://heritagenaturalmarket.com/

It just celebrated 50 years last year. ❤

[bhikkhu]

57. I shopped at The Coop in Santa Cruz

Which was a really cool little health food store. I'd get lunch there, like soy milk, sprouts, tofu and a loaf of bread. And then mostly I'd buy brown rice, which they had in bulk. The checkers were mostly hippie chicks, lots of dreads and patchouli. I don't know if the store is still there (I moved in '81) but that's the kind of place I'd still shop if we had one where I'm at now.

[3Hotdogs]

58. The guy who ran the one in my town said to choose a location at the edge of

the town's shopping district. Or if possible, outside of the shopping district in a 1-off storefront.

[marlakay]

59. Yes I would shop there

And I do to something close to that. I live about 20 min drive from Ashland, OR co-op and its great. You can buy bulk, organics, local organic bakeries sell to them, farmers, etc

They have great breakfast burritos and dinner ones and you can buy homemade soups and salads.

Not cheap but worth it. I haven’t shopped there since this started because its so small and always crowded.

Its a great place to meet up with people for coffee or tea and old fashioned bulletin board tells all the things going on.

But the 70’s, I use to go to this place that had the best carrot cake....yummm and homemade yogurt...

[colorado_ufo]

61. Why, you are talking about Colorado's Natural Grocers stores (formerly Vitamin Cottage).

I think they have expanded into other states, as well. Maybe you could help open one? I shop there all the time!

[Codeine]

62. When I became a vegan

that sort of thing was the norm; if a consumer wanted vegan or “health food” products that was their only choice.

But now I can get a wealth of vegan goodies - far more than were ever available in the old health food store model, in fact - at literally any grocery store.

The other stuff at a health food store has never interested me — I don’t want herbs or vitamins or snake-oil supplements. I don’t want those paranoid magazine/flyers warning me about Big Pharma and the New World Order. I don’t want a giant poster of a heavily-photoshopped Suzanne Summers greeting me as I walk in the door.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that if they really REALLY bring their vegan food A-game I would shop there, but my gut says that it’s a business model on the way out.

Sandalwood and patchouli still get a thumbs up, though.

[Harker]

63. Sure do.

I lived in Boulder, Colorado from 1968 til about 2009.

[essme]

64. I am loving the comments on this thread

Thank you guys so much!

[Backseat Driver]

65. Sure wish this little market was within walking distance...

https://www.bexleynaturalmarket.org/sustainability

[alwaysinasnit]

66. I know of one (a co-op) in San Francisco.

https://www.rainbow.coop/sale-new-items/

[ancianita]

68. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Best of luck. The grocery biz is tough.

[JustAnotherGen]

69. I do every week

http://basilbandwagon.com/

Not surprising our county has no whole foods or trader joes out here. I don't think they could compete -or get in with the local region farmers.

[tblue37]

70. We have one here. It started as a co-op. It's grown a lot since it began in the

1970s, but it's still got the same "flavor." The fact that it grew so successful indicates that there is a demand, though this is a liberal college town in a red state.

[guillaumeb]

71. We have one in Oak Lawn, Illinois.

A tiny store, with a million products in it. And yes, we do show there.

[SnowCritter]

72. There's one within walking distance for me

My wife and I are members, but anyone can shop there. Membership just affords you a monthly discount and a say in what direction the store is going.

It's a great place to get artisan breads, raw grains, and other things that you don't find in a regular grocery store.

[IronLionZion]

73. We have them in DC

there are several local co-ops where people buy membership. And then there's Mom's https://momsorganicmarket.com/

Whole Foods is way too crowded and just a few entitled idiots can ruin the experience for everyone so I've been preferring the smaller stores because they have less people and nicer more sensible people.

[BeckyDem]

74. It would be loverly.

Especially right now, it would be a winner imo.

[HootieMcBoob]

75. Up here in Ulster County, NY

There’s a really nice one in Woodstock that’s been around for ages called Sunflower that’s recently had a big expansion. Also Mother Earth Storehouse in Kingston and Saugerties, NY. We shop in them a lot 😻

[Texasgal]

77. The original Whole Foods

was like this... I am a native Austinite and I remember checking out all the hippies going in and out. All the produce was in wooden crates.

[niyad]

78. There is a very popular one in my neighborhood.

[aikoaiko]

79. They are still there and still thriving

This is our crunchy hippie health food store in Savannah, GA.

https://brighterdayfoods.com/

[Marcuse]

80. Here's one that survived.

https://lexington.coop/about/why-shop-co-op/

[0nirevets]

81. Hell Yeah! They closed the one in my neighborhood 5-years ago.

Please, please, please open one

[Blue Owl]

82. Funny...

As a kid/teenager in the 80's, it almost seemed like we were programmed to hate those kind of stores because they didn't carry the brand names, sell all the processed crap, or have the retail flash of the big corporate stores.

Fast forward a few decades -- now they are the coolest gems around and the corporate stores are the uncool thing!

[meadowlander]

83. Yes, I shop at one regularly but it's closed because of Covid 19 at the moment.

I think psychologically most people want their food wrapped in plastic and not scooped out of bins that who knows who has had access to - at least at the moment.

Maybe things will change in the next six months though.

[Ferrets are Cool]

84. We still have one in lower Alabama.

[LakeArenal]

85. Yes.

[get the red out]

86. In the 80s for me

When I got to college I found the local co-op, and it was just like you described! I am much older and the co-op gradually evolved to start looking like Whole Foods Lite. I can’t afford it much now and fell kind of low class compared to a lot of the customers there now. But they have started trying to have some lower cost items now, since their bottom line was going the wrong direction. I have been buying our groceries there during the quarantine though! I feel better eating as much local food as possible, especially meats.

[SunSeeker]

87. Those cool little stores were put out of business by Whole Foods and Amazon. nt

[Blue_true]

138. Not really. There are some that have a very successful online presence.

Some sell through their own URL, others use Amazon and other channels for sales.

[WePurrsevere]

88. What you have in mind sounds wonderful to me. We have two very similar...

in towns near us and they do a decent business including some from us. There's a more clinical looking one near us too but I highly prefer to do business with the other two. They have a more homey, nurturing and positive vibe IMO.

[llmart]

89. To be successful you'd have to make sure you open it in an area that's educated and liberal.

I read that you are in NC and if you're in an area around Chapel Hill, Charlotte or Asheville it would probably be a success. Not so much if you're in redneck NC areas (you know where they are).

I would definitely shop in one but I'm in an area where we only have a gigantic Whole Foods and since Amazon took them over they don't seem as much fun to shop in any longer.

[seltzerwater]

90. If they could make a decent Powerhouse,

I would shop anywhere.

[localroger]

91. You mean like this one?

https://www.itsanotherbeautifulday.com/

Don't be fooled; their website makes them look a lot slicker than they really are, but the food (served at a linear bar) is as pictured. They also have shelves stuffed with vitamins, nutritional supplements, and exotic food ingredients. They were here in 1992 when we moved to Mandeville and are still in business today. (And suddenly I'm hungry for a Super Sandwich.)

[ChazInAz]

92. I still can.

The Food Conspiracy Coop on Tucson's Fourth Avenue!

[japple]

93. We have one in my little town. It is a great place to shop. I buy all of

my nutritional supplements, soap, toiletries, CBD oil, and some snacks there. It smells heavenly! They also have salt lamps, herbs, essential oils, a small selection of bulk foods and cooking/baking ingredients. The woman who owns it really knows her stuff and is full of good advice. I wish they had a sandwich counter, but there is a wonderful coffee shop right across the street that sells coffee/tea and has a full menu of warm/cold sandwiches, a full breakfast menu plus home-baked goods.

[Tall Poppy]

94. Yes!

I told my husband yesterday about the vegetarian Grocery/Deli I loved in my college days in Baltimore. Those tofu/sprouts sandwiches on 7 grain bread were amazing. They had little glass vials of I dont know what that folks would snap and drink right at the checkout counter.

My Texan husband loves his meat and BBQ and I'm trying to introduce more lean protein and vegetarian/raw food options daily. We are very fit (runners), but getting older means each calorie has to count!

The "health" food stores in my area are so focused on pills and supplements and they make my head spin.

[jayschool2013]

95. Open Harvest Co-op in Lincoln, Nebraska

It has modernized some in the last several years, but it exists in the same city of 300,000 with Whole Foods, Natural Grocers and a handful of other conglomerate grocery chains.

[karynnj]

96. Many stores like that in Vermont and CSAs for agricultural produce

[Mickju]

97. Yes and yes.

[LisaM]

98. Yes.

An island where I go to has a natural grocery, and the smell in particular throws me back to time when a few of our moms would go to those old stores, early food co-ops and such.

Unfortunately, the one I went to expanded and began doing a lot of things like basing a lot of its sales on kamboucha and catering to what seemed to be wealthier weekenders and tourists (this is on an island) and now I don't like it as much and frequent it less.

But when it had that throwback feel, I just loved it, and it was a go-to place for things like hard-to-find spices.

[democrank]

99. In the part of rural Vermont where I live

there are five such stores, all in reasonable driving times.....one fifteen minutes away. Want honey? Bring your own jar and fill it up. With local honey. Get a bag of oats or a local cheese. Automatic discounts for senior citizens. All are community oriented, all wonderful places. I stay away from the more expensive stuff and purchase mostly staples.

I love the peaceful vibe, the helpful workers, the care and consideration for the community.

[woodsprite]

100. Already do! It's been around since 1967!

We love it but I haven't been able to get hubby to part with $100 for a lifetime household membership. Don't know if it's the price or if it's the volunteer hours that scares him off. I think that the price is REALLY reasonable and getting to know other people in our town that we don't usually interact with is a bonus.

They make the absolutely most divine vegan vanilla cream donuts and they have an awesome lunch buffet alongside their grocery store.

That's the first place I'm going to go for lunch when all this crap is over with and we get back to some normalcy!

*** I just checked. Now we're a college town, so that might skew the numbers a bit, but their membership is just over 4000 right now.

Best of luck if you decide to do that! We prefer to shop at shops like that when we go on vacation!

[Pisces]

101. My parents were hippies and this description immediately brought back the smell and feel.

[ahlnord]

102. co-ops and health food stores

They never went away here in Minnesota. They have thrived. As well as farmers markets and CSA's (consumer supported agriculture - where you pay for the growing season to support a farmer and receive regular boxes of produce, eggs, honey, etc. directly from a farm). Good luck with your plans!

[MuseRider]

103. In a heartbeat.

I remember the entire downtown of Lawrence, Kansas smelling like patchouli and sandlewood mixed with leather. I loved those stores, not only were the products lovely and mostly handmade by the store owner sitting out front lacing some leather bag of some kind, the entire vibe was one of welcome.

[captain queeg]

104. Yeah I remember those. Most college towns at least had them.

My brother and his wife opened a vegetarian restaurant in Kent OH back in the 70s. I can’t remember the name of it right now but I think it’s still open. It was sort of a post hippie hang out.

[Hulk]

105. I used to work in one..back in the late 60's...

My first real job...$3.00 an hour...eventually went up to $3.50. I was the stockboy at Eastport Plaza's Healthway Foods.

We had it all. The juice bars were at the downtown store and maybe they had one at Lloyd Center? Not sure.

I was the "right hand man". They would even let me train another dude to fill in for me while I ran off to travel the Europe countryside for 10 weeks on my saved up $3000 every summer..1966, '67 and '68. Community college was only $68 a term...and life was good. When I returned from Europe, I would get my job back again.

We carried Loma Linda canned goods, goat milk and a variety of yogurts, Select teas...hundreds in bags or bulk, grains, flours, specialty breads, and a thousand other items. All sorts of oils, 30 varieties of honey....

The real money makers though were the pills. The ladies even got commissions off many of them. I always saw that as a racket, but lots of folks believed in them.

Had a product called "Muscle On"....a powder you mixed up like a malt. I actually put 20 lbs on this 108 pound frame of mine. Then Uncle Sam drafted me and I went off to save Democracy in Vietnam. Infantry fodder. I lasted about 3 months before getting blown up and sent home on a stretcher. I was one of the lucky ones.

Yup...health food store days. Eighteen and not a care in the world. Seventh Day Adventists ran the Loma Linda meatless products. They were pretty tasty if done right.

You triggered a memory I sort of forgot. Thanks.

[essme]

127. I am so enjoying these stories

I had a long talk with my sister last night- I think I miss the sixties and seventies- despite the political climate and that gd war (Thank you for your service; I am glad you came home), but because things seemed possible back then. It seemed like maybe the US was on a trajectory to be a true, honest dream.

Now, I feel boxed in, and trapped- and generally unhappy. My husband and I are doing fine financially. Have the house with a picket fence (couldn't make that up), a tiny place in the mountains. I have my masters, and a pretty good job in the school system....but, it feels.....bad. I want a place where I can make people feel good. I want to feel good.

[Hulk]

142. I hear ya.....this are the times when it's just going to be hard to feel great.

My folks lived through the Great Depression. It affected their lives from then on....I know it did. It did in the meals we ate, in the pleasure they took in getting a better life...lifting themselves up, and watching their kids do better or great.
But we have been dealing with the climax to the reagan dismantling of the federal government. His infamous bull shit quote of, government IS the problem seems to resonate with these idiots. This jackass in the White House is the climax. He has pretty well, along with the repuKKKe establishment, destroyed or nearly destroyed every government institution we have. Some are on life support.

Then throw in this virus, and we are dealing with every bit as impactful a period as the Great Depression. It's not the same, but it's just as impactful felt around the world. I live in central Mexico, in a World Heritage town. Tourism is gone. My good friends who live in Germany tell me it's the same there. My kids live up in the Pacific Northwest, and they are all bummed and affected. It's going to take generations to recover. Once we get rid of this disaster in the White House, we can either rebuild this country, or confirm that the American Dream is a memory....a story we can tell our grand kids.

Hang in there. It will get better...but it's going to take a loooong time. Forget the "May 1st" garbage. I see this going through the next winter at least. There are bright sides. The air is cleaner, the water is cleaner, and maybe we will all be more grounded in the years to come, and appreciate what we have better.

We'll make the best of this era.

[essme]

143. That is the exact conversation I had with

my husband-

You aren't in San Miguel are you? I had an apartment there, one block off the Jardin, over a pharmacy-

[Hulk]

144. Wow...yes.

My wife is from here. We have an apartment on the corner of Mesones and Relox. Have had this place for 15 years now...but spent 8 years of that 50/50 in the Portland Oregon vicinity.

Small world.

[SouthernLiberal]

106. I remember them well

nd yes, if I could, I would shop in one again.

[tosh]

108. Yes! ❤️❤️❤️

I loved my old-style health food store!

The one that I loved most (yes, from the 70’s) was actually still in business (different owner) until it suffered a fire about 5 years ago. It still did a good biz but was apparently under-insured and did not rebuild.

Great idea 💡, I think you should do it!

[joanbarnes]

109. that's where I first got turned on to yogurt, before big dairy poisoned it with sugar

[samnsara]

110. i belonged to a food co op in the 70s..was it like that?

...the didnt sell prepared foods tho. Lots of bulk items.

[Roy Rolling]

112. Of Course

We all remember. I’d shop there, but don’t rely on people like me. Be competitive with the others and your shop will be successful.

Read “Positioning” by Ries and Trout for what you’re up against. Understanding the marketplace and competition is essential.

Good luck!

[3catwoman3]

113. In Denver in the early 80s, The Rainbow Grocery...

...got a lot of our money. I don’t know if it is still there, Hippie-dippy psychedelic decor at the time.

They had scrumptious baklava.

[essme]

114. I just want everyone to know that I am reading

all of the responses to this thread--- I am surprised at how many people fondly remember these little places-

Amazing!

[PWPippinesq]

115. We are very fortunate to have Morning Glory in Brunswick, Maine.

It is a family owned business founded over 30 years ago. It is a favorite place to shop and to run into neighbors also looking for organic produce, staples and home goods. Local products, especially from Maine farmers and creators, are highlighted. Hopefully, when we get to the other side of the pandemic, there will be a shift in priorities and shopping local will make a come back.

[DEbluedude]

116. I shop at one weekly.

Been doing it for years. Small Mom & Pop, old hippies, It's right around the corner from our gym.

[WheelWalker]

117. Sundance Natural Foods, Eugene, Oregon... Since 1971

https://sundancenaturalfoods.com/

[aidbo]

129. Red Barn in the whit

[WheelWalker]

140. Another jungle remnant of the hippie counterculture. One of the best!

[denvine]

118. Definitely!

I was living in Denver in the 70's. The sandwiches and soups were wonderful. It was a wonderful atmosphere with large plants all over. They also sold health items, but I don't remember bulk food, but it would have fit right in. I would love to have one of those near me.

[redstatebluegirl]

121. I do! I had one across the street from my apartment in college.

I loved loved loved that store!

[customerserviceguy]

122. Consider the presence of big name competitors

Is there a Whole Foods near you? If not, then it might have a chance.

Personally, I loathe the smell of patchouli, it was the only part of the late Sixties and early Seventies that I'm not nostalgic for!

[handmade34]

123. of course

until I can get moved and open a bigger one... this is my shop out by the road... self service and everyone has been great!!

[essme]

124. That is darling!!!

I love it!

[Jirel]

126. We had one like that in Minneapolis into the 1990s.

It was bloody sad when it closed down. You could bring in your own bottles to fill up on organic soap, detergent, etc. They had homemade soaps and such, bulk items (and tons of herbs and teas, which is how I found them). They sold handmade clothes and such as well. It was always comforting and relaxing in there. Sadly, they were in an area that was quickly going from bohemian to uber-expensive. The stores that used to be there - the mom & pop cafeteria, an art studio, small restaurants, vintage and used clothing shops, etc. have been mostly replaced by large chains, million dollar condos, and seriously upscale dining.

[yardwork]

128. They all got bought by Whole Foods.

[jmowreader]

130. There's one in my city. I will not shop there.

The reason I will not shop there is one of the longest aisles in the whole store is nothing but homeopathic preparations. I refuse to support any business that maintains more than a trivial amount of homeopathic crap.

There's another store of this nature that opened recently. They only have two bays of homeopathic preparations, but that's enough to keep me the hell out of it for the rest of time.

A health food store with no homeopathic bullshit would draw my business.

[Patterson]

131. Do it!

[Blue_true]

139. The person needs to be careful.

It is one thing to be an avid lover of a certain type of business, it something entirely different to make of business of it. The person is thinking about the business aspect, that takes planning and asking/answering tough question.

[essme]

145. This person holds a

Masters, has a husband who works with grants and loans.....and isn't considering it for years☺but thank you!

[Blue_true]

146. Is you Masters in Business Administration and do you have practical experience actually RUNNING

a business, I am not talking about supervising in a business? Working with grants and loans IS NOT RUNNING A BUSINESS.

I hate to sound like an ass on this. My first business failed, even after I increased sales by 100%. There are just so many things that I didn't know.

If your plan is to start a business a few years from now, try to connect with organizations that include businesswomen. Ask plenty questions. Most of the owners will tell you about their failures and successes, that information is valuable If you do that, I promise you that your business plan will be strong when you are ready to go.

My first business failure was used as a guidepost when I started my second. My family was poor, but of my parents children, three own businesses and one of their grands own a business. It is tough work, even when you love what you are doing.

[essme]

161. I am sorry if my answer was snippy

I only posted because I was curious about how people view these little, "old timey" stores-- a throwback to the best of the sixties and seventies. I would never ask for business advice on a social media website, although I am sure there are folks here that have much to offer.

We are heading into a pretty decent retirement; a store like this would be more of a late stage, nostalgic hobby business for us- something my husband and I can enjoy together. We are well aware of the research, money, and resources we need to utilize for a project like this.

I was/ am more interested in the nostalgic stories of folks that shopped, or still shop at these little places.

I am not kidding myself; I know I could easily lose half a million on something like this-

[Blue_true]

163. On my business failure, I lost closet to $1 million dollars and ended up $200,000 in debt.

Money can go fast in the wrong situation. That is why I suggested that you bring in a professional, dispationate third party to help with your decisionmaking. I also suggested that you OWN the buikding that your store will be in instead of renting, that alone adds several hundred thousand dollars that you would need free and clear. The reason why you want to own is in most wealthy states, landlords will require that you sign a ten year lease. Let's say your rent is $2,500 per month (pretty low estimate for most wealthy states), if your business only last 2 years (typical for most startup businesses), you are on the hook for $240,000 in rent. If your business failed, you most likely won't have a spare $240,000 laying around, so the landlord come after other assets like your home. You would be better off to buy a rundown, but structurally sound little house on a commuter road outside of the city and snaz it up a tad, if your business fails, you can try to sell or rent out the house.

Just some things that I learned from hard experience. Fortunately I had family, one brother allowed my to sleep on the couch at his place for three years, another had a business and loaned me money off the books, a third owned a business with more space than he needed and allowed me to start and operate my second business rent free until I got back on my feet. One thing that I learned from a successful and honest business evaluator after my first business was pretty much failed is that business owners seldom sell a successful business, they 100% of the time pass them on to kids or family, if you meet a business owner that wants to sell you something that seems potentially valuable, that is a massive red flag, stop and seek expert advice before signing anything.

[essme]

164. Maybe you misunderstood:

I was trying to tell you gently. I appreciate your advice, but this wasn't the right thread to give it on.

This is just a fun dream right now. I have no intention of investing in, nor starting this for YEARS.

I am well aware of resources that I need to start writing a business plan; I am a librarian--

When we get to that point in a few years, I'll surely post asking for advice.

This is simply a nostalgia thread. I don't know how you missed my posts stating that I was enjoying recollections by DU members- and there are many. I have enjoyed every one of them.

Your post just stressed me out--- please understand that I could care less about the "nuts and bolts" right this minute. I am spending my days finding e-resources for young adults, and children. I almost wish you would delete your posts; they ruined a pleasant pastime for me. Just dreaming of the future, thinking of how we can get back to decent foods, less fuel, etc.

[Blue_true]

165. I won't delete my posts.

You don't have to read them, hopefully others will and will find value in them. Believe me, you will be a lot more stressed out if you find yourself in your late 50s or 60s broke because of a business failure, that is an experience that I would warn anyone against having to go through - that doesn't say that you should not try to live a dream, just have a set amount of money that you are willing to lose and if you hit that, have yourself in a position to shut the doors immediately. Hopefully, if you get there, you will be among the percentage of first time business owners that succeed out of the gate.

Honestly, when I read the replies to you, I was stunned by the number of people that were saying "go for it". The only thing that I will guess is not a single one of those people have ever owned a business. I felt a need to counter that wrong-headed view. You don't have to like the real life warnings that I gave you, hopefully, someone else that is contemplating starting a business will read them and find the value in them that my experience say is there.

[Patterson]

166. I owned a business.

[Blue_true]

167. How did it go? Some people hit the mark on the first try, most, like me don't. nt

[Patterson]

168. Fair.

[OhZone]

132. We still have one!

Natural Foods on 37.

[femmedem]

133. I am one of maybe a thousand owners of one in my small city.

We have the bulk bins, the local soaps and produce, a code kitchen where people prepare to go food. I was on the board of directors when we opened, and then I was a vendor at their indoor winter farmers market.

It's the best place to shop here during the pandemic. They've got curbside pickup, everyone wears masks, they've got a table with gloves and hand sanitizer when you walk in, and they have staff handling the bulk purchases now to minimize people touching everything.

[Chellee]

134. That's where I shop now.

I like the fact that the building is smaller. I find the sheer size of most stores annoying. I also like that my co-op has lots of locally produced products. That's just a win on multiple levels, it keeps money inside the community, it didn't have to be shipped over long distances, so there's less environmental damage, and it's fresher. Every year they have a plant sale and you can buy herbs and vegetables to transplant. They have a little cafe inside (although that portion is closed right now) with a salad bar, a hot food bar, soups and sandwiches. I love my co-op!

I only go to the big stores to get a few things that the co-op doesn't carry, and I haven't even done that for the last month. I'm limiting the number of places I go, and I'm finding out that a lot of things that I considered essential before, really aren't.

[Blue_true]

136. There is a very successful healthfood store in my town.

The family has done so well that they have a store in three other Florida cities.

The key is to find someone who really knows the business. Maybe you can be a business partner with a longtime healthfood store employee that wants to own.

Keys of business that I have learned:

- If you want a partner, have a background check done on that person before you sign him or her on the partner with you. Character MATTERS.

- If you can, find an expert evaluator to review your business plan. Surprisingly really good CPAs have worked with tons of business people and have some evaluation chops about what can work from a financial standpoint.

- Try to avoid signing a lease. Even if you have to start the business in an old abandoned building, do that instead of signing a 10 year lease in the city or surburbs. The key is to keep your hard financial obligations as low as possible, this works early on when you are trying to build a reputation for your business.

- Don't start a business that depends upon discounts to customers or promotions to survive, if you do, you are dead out of the gate.

- Set up online ordering capability immediately, you can even sell through Amazon. This will allow you to develop a revenue stream that doesn't rely on walkin foot traffic.

- Keep your displays organized and avoid clutter. Set up a good inventory management system so that you know what is selling, keep those items in supply.

[miyazaki]

141. I remember they smelled like nasty vitamins.

I was just a wee little one then.

[displacedtexan]

148. Rainbow Grocery in San Francisco is still unassuming.

Even though there are tons of Volvos in the lot. It's grown a lot, but it still has a calm vibe.

https://www.rainbow.coop/

[Happy Hoosier]

150. I got terrible food poisoning from one....

Apparently they didn’t wash their lettuce. Ugh, it was rough.

[dawg day]

151. I remember the "head shops"--

Sold bongs and rolling papers. I think the heavy incense was meant to cover up the pot smell.

[Ahpook]

152. Little bit of insight here

An ex girlfriend has owned a shop like this for about 10 years. She has local made crafts, soaps, candles and many other trinkets and oddities. She also has yoga classes, drum circles and many other activities after hours in the store.

Business is slow however! She gets her bills paid but certainly not making money for an annual trip to Hawaii It takes a community to support stores like this. The zombies go straight to the big box stores instead of supporting the locals.

[bullimiami]

153. Beehive. Bird Road South Miami. I think it may still be there.

I havent been there in almost 15yrs.

Had a tiny restaurant space in the back.
Maybe 10 seats.
Deelicious thanks to Carlos.
Seitan Pie. Yum.

And yes I would go to a place like that today.

[Wednesdays]

154. I'd definitely shop at such a place.

However, I can't help you because I don't live anywhere near you.

Choose your location carefully -- make sure it's where a lot of potential customers live. A college town would be ideal.

[peacebuzzard]

155. I certainly do. Went into many of them.

in many countries, backpacking through Europe, traveling through many cities here in the U.S., the 70s was a grand era,
There are still a few around. But after this experience we are going through currently, I will be not doing retail much at all.
I will be restricting my travels to strict necessity only, and will be doing delivery for food as a preference.
If you do open a vegan store please include take out and delivery. `You should have a demand for that, if you offer your menu online etc.... `you could build your portal with a laid back 70s theme.

[Doreen]

156. We have one of those in Centralia Wa and one in Chehalis Wa.

I think there are a couple between Tumwater and Lacey Wa also.

[Merlot]

158. There is one of those right near my house

They don't have a website, so I call them up and tell them what I need, they walk to the shelf and describe the item, give me brand names and prices. Then I pay by CC, and they bring it out to my car. I'm really happy that I can be supporting a small business at this time.