A small health food store?

canyontothesky · October 2009

I'm not saying this exists, but does anyone know of a small, specialty health food/all natural store, that's a bit more curated than most. I'm thinking something similar in feel to, but up to a few times the size of Grab on 7th Ave, mixed with Perelandra in Brooklyn Heights. It can be in Park Slope, or anywhere in Brooklyn, or anywhere in Manhattan, below Midtown. Ideas?

raw · October 2009

Back to the Land isn't big, but it's health food:

http://www.backtothelandnaturalfoods.com/retailer/store_templates/ret_about_us.asp?storeID=8277E28769C14CACAFA69116098EDF57

joannad · October 2009

canyon - what is it that you envision buying at this mythical store? That might help people know what you're looking for

scarlett · October 2009

Whatever it is Back to the Land has it. Every time I call them for some weird thing they have it.

longtimesloper · October 2009

What is wrong with Back To The Land?

canyontothesky · October 2009

I know this is going to sound silly, but I've always had a dream of owning a specialty foods store and/or bakery. I'm a recent college grad trying to figure out my calling, and since I haven't been able to find a paying job (wasn't trying too hard), I'm trying to figure out precisely what it is I want to do, and then approach places for an internship. I'm interested in health, organic, all-natural wellness, and cancer prevention/recovery-related things at the moment. I'm also considering going to culinary school. Just investigating options. Thought I could pop around to some cute, boutiquey, but well meaning and quality health food stores to find somewhere inspiring. I figured beating around the bush was better than admitting my intentions, though. Heh. Hope that helps.

pitu · October 2009

Have you looked into joining the Park Slope Food Coop? Way cheaper and best quality compared to other local options -- it's a membership-only place where you put in a couple hours of labor every month. Awesome place if you have the time.
http://foodcoop.com

And since you have to work, it's kinda like an internship...

canyontothesky · October 2009

The Coop isn't my idea of learning how to own a small health food store.

tapdame · October 2009

How about Organic Avenue on the LES? http://www.organicavenue.com

homeowner · October 2009

Try Imhotep on Nostrand Avenue at Park Place or Ital Shack at Nostrand and St John's. Both do a dry goods, packaged health/vegetarian/vegan foods, prepared foods and fresh juices. Warning, both of these places are west indian so the prepared foods tend to skew towards carribean/east indian/southern types of dishes

asil · October 2009

canyontothesky wrote: The Coop isn't my idea of learning how to own a small health food store.

Why not? The Coop has existed for over 35 years and has seen skyrocketing growth in membership and products carried and a huge store expansion during that time, all while remaining fiscally sound. Regardless of how you feel about it (and people do love it or hate it, not much middle ground), you have to admit it's a pretty successful business. Obviously the cooperative aspect is different from owning and running your own store, but I think you would still find a lot to learn there.

pitu · October 2009

Asil wrote: [quote=canyontothesky]The Coop isn't my idea of learning how to own a small health food store.

Why not? The Coop has existed for over 35 years and has seen skyrocketing growth in membership and products carried and a huge store expansion during that time, all while remaining fiscally sound. Regardless of how you feel about it (and people do love it or hate it, not much middle ground), you have to admit it's a pretty successful business. Obviously the cooperative aspect is different from owning and running your own store, but I think you would still find a lot to learn there.

I disagree, Asil.

Anyone that comes out of the gate with that attitude is right to steer clear of the Coop. To each his or her own.

Anyone else, check out http://foodcoop.com/ and http://www.psfc.blogspot.com/
I've learned a lot at the coop, and I wasn't even trying...

canyontothesky · October 2009

I meant that working for less than three hours every month is not an internship by any stretch of the imagination, especially when it's required for all members, none of whom consider it to be an internship, but rather a due, and I don't have a desire to work at such a large store.

naidre'sparkslope · October 2009

D'Vine Taste on 7th Ave... not exactly a health food store, but kind of Grab-like and bigger.

canyontothesky · October 2009

Thanks for the recommendations, I'm going to check out those places.

In thinking about it, let me be a tad more specific about what my intentions are. I'm looking for a health food/all natural store, again, anywhere below midtown Manhattan, including in Brooklyn, where I can intern to learn the ins and out natural, healthy food, like working with the buyer, owner or manager. I'm not looking to open a place of my own anymore, but I want expertise on foods and their benefits, for a consulting/recommendation-type project that I plan to do one day on the web. I'm not looking for anywhere that pushes a certain lifestyle, like raw or vegan, or where they are too emphatic about their choices (you know, when you walk into a store and they simply can't comprehend you living any other way than how they do). I suppose that with these changes, size doesn't matter, just a friendly atmosphere and somewhere that is likely to take on an intern with intentions like mine!

Given that, are there any more suggestions of where to look?

canyontothesky · October 2009

Ugh you know what, nevermind all that. I'm not pursuing any of that anymore, except for myself. I just need to find a good place that sells natural and organic products, but also really imporant is that the produce is local.. besides the Co-Op. I may end up joining, I just want to know what else is out there. Already I have Back to the Land and Union Market. Anywhere else?

A small health food store?

Comments

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories