Earth Fare decides to close stores nationwide, including 3 Jacksonville-area locations

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Earth Fare, a specialty and organic grocery store with three Jacksonville-area locations, announced Monday that it will be closing all of its stores.

“Earth Fare has been proud to serve the natural and organic grocery market, and the decision to begin the process of closing our stores was not entered into lightly. We’d like to thank our Team Members for their commitment and dedication to serving our customers, and our vendors and suppliers for their partnership,” the company said in a release.

The grocery store, which is based in North Carolina, has the following Jacksonville-area locations:

• Mandarin, 11700 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32223
• St. Johns, 120 Shops Blvd., St. Johns, FL 32259
• Jacksonville, 11901 Atlantic Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32225

The company is encouraging customers to take advantage of its inventory liquidation sales.

The announcement of Earth Fare’s closure comes just two weeks after the news that Lucky’s Market is closing most of its locations, including two in the Jacksonville area.

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Bob Wellington was not happy to learn one of his favorite places to buy food is closing.

“Where else do you go for a place like this where they treat you like you’re part of the family?” asked Wellington.

Terry Moore, a commercial real estate attorney in Jacksonville, says competition within the marketplace, and pricing for organic produce, could be factors into why we’re seeing stores closing.

“Those food products, generally, are a little bit more expensive,” said Moore. “… At some point, the preferences are subordinated to pocketbook realities.”

Wellington said the changing grocery store landscape will take some getting used to.

“Change always makes you rearrange your future, so it’s another change I have to go through,” said Wellington.

So far, Earth Fare has not announced exactly when the local stores will close for good.

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