News

'Back in business': Country Sun may remain open

Store announces that it has been 'saved' and is preparing to restock its shelves

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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Gennady Sheyner
 
Gennady Sheyner covers the City Hall beat in Palo Alto as well as regional politics, with a special focus on housing and transportation. Before joining the Palo Alto Weekly/PaloAltoOnline.com in 2008, he covered breaking news and local politics for the Waterbury Republican-American, a daily newspaper in Connecticut. Read more >>

Follow on Twitter @paloaltoweekly, Facebook and on Instagram @paloaltoonline for breaking news, local events, photos, videos and more.

'Back in business': Country Sun may remain open

Store announces that it has been 'saved' and is preparing to restock its shelves

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.

Comments

ALB
Registered user
College Terrace
on Dec 11, 2023 at 7:53 pm
ALB, College Terrace
Registered user
on Dec 11, 2023 at 7:53 pm

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.


stephen levy
Registered user
University South
on Dec 12, 2023 at 7:24 am
stephen levy, University South
Registered user
on Dec 12, 2023 at 7:24 am

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.


anon1234
Registered user
College Terrace
on Dec 12, 2023 at 7:35 am
anon1234, College Terrace
Registered user
on Dec 12, 2023 at 7:35 am

Indeed fantastic news!
Thanks to the angels that saved Country Sun.
Also glad to hear the importance of convenient parking for successful emphasized!


Online Name
Registered user
Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
on Dec 12, 2023 at 7:40 am
Online Name, Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
Registered user
on Dec 12, 2023 at 7:40 am

Yay!!! And restating the importance of convenient parking if we want businesses to survive and thrive.


anon1234
Registered user
College Terrace
on Dec 12, 2023 at 7:41 am
anon1234, College Terrace
Registered user
on Dec 12, 2023 at 7:41 am

Sorry key word missing.
Should read “successful retail emphasized”


Eat your kale
Registered user
Midtown
on Dec 12, 2023 at 10:53 am
Eat your kale, Midtown
Registered user
on Dec 12, 2023 at 10:53 am

Country Sun carries the best collard greens at a give away price. Adequate bicycle parking right in front.


Joey
Registered user
Barron Park
on Dec 12, 2023 at 11:03 am
Joey, Barron Park
Registered user
on Dec 12, 2023 at 11:03 am

My go-to store for high quality supplements!


M
Registered user
Old Palo Alto
on Dec 12, 2023 at 11:35 am
M, Old Palo Alto
Registered user
on Dec 12, 2023 at 11:35 am

Great news. I plan to keep shopping there, and hope others will as well.


Carol
Registered user
Duveneck/St. Francis
on Dec 12, 2023 at 12:11 pm
Carol, Duveneck/St. Francis
Registered user
on Dec 12, 2023 at 12:11 pm

Great news. I shop at Country Sun and love the store!


Consider Your Options.
Registered user
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Dec 12, 2023 at 12:12 pm
Consider Your Options. , Another Palo Alto neighborhood
Registered user
on Dec 12, 2023 at 12:12 pm
Ferdinand
Registered user
Barron Park
on Dec 12, 2023 at 12:25 pm
Ferdinand , Barron Park
Registered user
on Dec 12, 2023 at 12:25 pm

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


another parent
Registered user
Old Palo Alto
on Dec 12, 2023 at 1:43 pm
another parent, Old Palo Alto
Registered user
on Dec 12, 2023 at 1:43 pm

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.


Bystander
Registered user
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Dec 12, 2023 at 7:10 pm
Bystander, Another Palo Alto neighborhood
Registered user
on Dec 12, 2023 at 7:10 pm

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.


Silver Linings
Registered user
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Dec 13, 2023 at 11:39 am
Silver Linings, Another Palo Alto neighborhood
Registered user
on Dec 13, 2023 at 11:39 am

YAY!!!!!!! Whoot Whoot! This is very good news.


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