Pioneering Organic Food Mart Closing Its Doors

@velvetelvis_com: I have worked for Nature Mart since I was 12 years old. I am very sorry to see it go. #losfeliz

Tweets like this one are typical over the past week.

Yes, after 38 years, Nature Mart is shutting down after “losing its lease.”

The beloved purveyor of all things organic--including wheatgrass juice--is going the way of Echo Park's Pioneer Market.

It will be replaced by an outlet of a chain from Camarillo, Lassen’s--at least according to some speculation.

Nature Mart wouldn't comment officially on its successor.

Founder Matt E. Huupponen will continue operating his Tundra Trading, a wholesale online supplier of organic products, from a location in Glendale.

NATURE MART HAS SHAPED GENERATIONS

Nature Mart is located in Los Feliz on Hillhurst Avenue.

But it rises to the level of Echo Park Patch attention because of its  impact on several generations of hippies and healthy eaters.

For decades it was one of the few L.A. outposts for organic produce and mom-and-pop organic products.

It’s also been a place where you could buy spices and grains—especially quinoa and buckwheat—in bulk and sip a custom-crafted juice concoction made right before your eyes.

Selective shoppers seemed stunned by news including architect and product designer Roger Nanagita. He's shopped at Nature Mart for years.

Nanagita, like many others, finds Nature Mart the only real world destination of some convenience that stocks the products he needs.

He blames the rise of Whole Foods and other big chains in the niche.

Today he food shops mostly online.

NOV.1 IS CLOSING DEADLINE

Nature Mart must be out of its building by Nov. 1 so a new tenant can take over.

The word about the change first went out last Wednesday when Nature Mart began selling everything in the store and jucie bar at a 25 percent discount.

When we stopped by Monday, many shelves were almost bare. The bulk bins in the juice bar were picked pretty clean too.

Long-time juice bar manager Gustavo Gonzalez brewed up a wheatgrass juice shot for us.

Gonzalez said business has been brisk, with one last wheatgrass order in the offing.

Gonzalez said he came to work at Nature Mart because he needed a job.

But now he’s a believer, and drinks wheatgrass and eats organic produce.

As for many others, Nature Mart has changed his life. He's now wondering what he'll do next when the store closes.

NATURE MART FANS ORGANIZE FACEBOOK GROUP

If you what to keep up with what's going on with Nature Mart, there's now a Facebook group.

They’re organizing a Halloween party at the store and otherwise keeping tabs on things.

Click here for the link.

This story is part of Patch's nationwide series  Tell us what issues and what stories in Echo Park go to the heart of your American Dream. Please contact editor Anthea Raymond at anthea.raymond@patch.com.