Earth Fare, the natural and organic grocer, announced Jan. 14 it will reopen in St. Johns County.
Earth Fare and shopping center owner Sleiman Enterprises said in a news release the store will open in the second quarter at the Shoppes of St. Johns Parkway off County Road 210 West.
“This is a growing area and desirable location with great demographics,” said Randy Tally, co-founder, chief sustainability officer and director of leasing at Earth Fare. “This area wants a specialty healthy grocery store and we are happy to deliver the community an organic and natural foods grocery store.”
The store at 120 Shops Blvd. opened in October 2019 and closed in February, along with the rest of the chain, when it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
But the Asheville, North Carolina-based grocery is making a comeback.
Supermarket News reported in July the chain was reopening stores after an investment from Hulsing Enterprises, also of Asheville, North Carolina, and the founders of Earth Fare.
“You will find many of the same trusted brands and house made specialties back in our store, and we are adding some new ones,” said David Isinghood, chief operations officer at Earth Fare. “Keeping our Food Philosophy and product standards at the forefront, we are expanding our craftsmanship and increasing our selection of Organic produce and local offerings.”
Before it declared bankruptcy, Earth Fare operated about 50 stores nationwide, including three in Northeast Florida. The Earth Fare website now says the company has 16 stores with five coming soon. The St. Johns store has not yet been added to the coming soon list.
“By welcoming Earth Fare back to St. Johns, we are providing the community with a healthy choice in the market for groceries, which we believe is desperately needed in more communities across the country,” said Toney Sleiman, principal at Sleiman, in the news release. “Earth Fare promises to provide communities, sometimes underserved, with healthy foods and locally sourced items. It’s so important now to provide groceries and goods to sustain our communities and, ultimately, strengthen them.”