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by Gennady Sheyner / Palo Alto Weekly
Uploaded: Mon, Dec 11, 2023, 5:57 pm 14
Time to read: about 1 minutes
Country Sun Natural Foods on California Avenue in Palo Alto on Nov. 3, 2021. Photo by Magali Gauthier.
Country Sun, the grocery store known for its organic fare and its vitamin selection, may not be closing after all.
The store announced on social media on Monday morning, Dec. 11, that it is “back in business,” suggesting that it is no longer planning to shutter at the end of the year. Customers were notified in October that the grocery store would be closing on Dec. 24, a decision that was attributed to declining sales caused by changing consumer habits, General Manager Scott Otte told this publication at the time.
The store tried to find a new buyer earlier this year who would keep the store open but was unable to close that deal — until now, it seems.
Otte was not at the store on Monday and did not respond to numerous requests for comment over the weekend and on Monday. When asked about the Instagram post, store employees declined to provide any additional information, with one employee saying that they were instructed not to speak to the media.
But numerous Country Sun customers said in posts on the social media site Next Door that they were told by employees over the weekend that the store will remain open.
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The store’s post on Instagram confirmed this. Three days after Country Sun announced that “Everything must go!” it posted on Monday that “members of our community have saved Country Sun from closing!” It did not disclose who the new owner is.
“It’ll take us a while to get back to normal and fill our shelves again!” the business announced.
The store has been at its current location at 440 California Ave. since 1980, having moved there from a smaller location on the 300 block of California Avenue. It is an offshoot of Earth Sign, an organic store that opened in Menlo Park in the 1970s and then relocated to Palo Alto.
Some of the shelves at Country Sun were empty on Dec. 11. Photo by Gennady Sheyner
Editor’s note: This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
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by Gennady Sheyner / Palo Alto Weekly
Uploaded: Mon, Dec 11, 2023, 5:57 pm
Country Sun, the grocery store known for its organic fare and its vitamin selection, may not be closing after all.
The store announced on social media on Monday morning, Dec. 11, that it is “back in business,” suggesting that it is no longer planning to shutter at the end of the year. Customers were notified in October that the grocery store would be closing on Dec. 24, a decision that was attributed to declining sales caused by changing consumer habits, General Manager Scott Otte told this publication at the time.
The store tried to find a new buyer earlier this year who would keep the store open but was unable to close that deal — until now, it seems.
Otte was not at the store on Monday and did not respond to numerous requests for comment over the weekend and on Monday. When asked about the Instagram post, store employees declined to provide any additional information, with one employee saying that they were instructed not to speak to the media.
But numerous Country Sun customers said in posts on the social media site Next Door that they were told by employees over the weekend that the store will remain open.
The store’s post on Instagram confirmed this. Three days after Country Sun announced that “Everything must go!” it posted on Monday that “members of our community have saved Country Sun from closing!” It did not disclose who the new owner is.
“It’ll take us a while to get back to normal and fill our shelves again!” the business announced.
The store has been at its current location at 440 California Ave. since 1980, having moved there from a smaller location on the 300 block of California Avenue. It is an offshoot of Earth Sign, an organic store that opened in Menlo Park in the 1970s and then relocated to Palo Alto.
Editor’s note: This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Country Sun, the grocery store known for its organic fare and its vitamin selection, may not be closing after all.
The store announced on social media on Monday morning, Dec. 11, that it is “back in business,” suggesting that it is no longer planning to shutter at the end of the year. Customers were notified in October that the grocery store would be closing on Dec. 24, a decision that was attributed to declining sales caused by changing consumer habits, General Manager Scott Otte told this publication at the time.
The store tried to find a new buyer earlier this year who would keep the store open but was unable to close that deal — until now, it seems.
Otte was not at the store on Monday and did not respond to numerous requests for comment over the weekend and on Monday. When asked about the Instagram post, store employees declined to provide any additional information, with one employee saying that they were instructed not to speak to the media.
But numerous Country Sun customers said in posts on the social media site Next Door that they were told by employees over the weekend that the store will remain open.
The store’s post on Instagram confirmed this. Three days after Country Sun announced that “Everything must go!” it posted on Monday that “members of our community have saved Country Sun from closing!” It did not disclose who the new owner is.
“It’ll take us a while to get back to normal and fill our shelves again!” the business announced.
The store has been at its current location at 440 California Ave. since 1980, having moved there from a smaller location on the 300 block of California Avenue. It is an offshoot of Earth Sign, an organic store that opened in Menlo Park in the 1970s and then relocated to Palo Alto.
Editor’s note: This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
I am pinching myself to acknowledge this good outcome. Country Sun is the heart of California Avenue. It is the go to retailer for organic fruits and vegetables. The staff including Kevin, Parker and others are outstanding. Some of us were literally praying for this save. I have gratitude for the investors who came forward to keep Country Sun the special presence it is for our community.
Great news, one of our favorite stores and with easy parking right behind the back door. Will continue to bring us regularly to Cal Ave.
Indeed fantastic news!
Thanks to the angels that saved Country Sun.
Also glad to hear the importance of convenient parking for successful emphasized!
Yay!!! And restating the importance of convenient parking if we want businesses to survive and thrive.
Sorry key word missing.
Should read “successful retail emphasized”
Country Sun carries the best collard greens at a give away price. Adequate bicycle parking right in front.
My go-to store for high quality supplements!
Great news. I plan to keep shopping there, and hope others will as well.
Great news. I shop at Country Sun and love the store!
Yay!!!
Such good good news, and want to echo ‘Thank you!” to the people who stepped forward to take over the lease. Please let Country Sun managers and employees know if there are things you would like carried. If there is enough demand for what we want we can help shape a store than can withstand some of the economic and convenience pressures. Here is the link to their web page–at the bottom right is a suggestion box! Web Link
Hoooray!!!! I’m happy to hear this good news. Regarding the whole parking debate, I have always parked in the garage behind Country Sun, even before that section of Cal Ave was closed, and have been able to get in and out pretty quickly.
Very pleased to hear this, we should be able to keep all popular stores open.
If only there was a way to know what was happening before closures are announced and we can do something before it’s too late.
YAY!!!!!!! Whoot Whoot! This is very good news.
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