April 18, 2022

The nation’s largest family-operated organic and natural grocery store is coming to Sioux Falls.

Natural Grocers is taking over the space at 2601 S. Louise Ave., which most recently was Northern Tool + Equipment.

The company has more than 160 locations in 20 states, including three stores in North Dakota. This is the first in South Dakota.

“It’s an exciting thing, and it’s also the right location,” said Ron Nelson, president of Nelson Commercial Real Estate, who leased the space. “As a retailer searching for sites, it’s so rare to go out and look for something and find exactly what you’re looking for, and this was that for them.”

Natural Grocers has been in business more than 50 years and promotes itself as providing “high-quality products at affordable prices.”

Departments include 100 percent organic products, body care, books, bulk foods, dairy products, meat and seafood, dietary supplements, frozen products, grab-and-go, grocery, household products and organic pet products.

Natural Grocers carries 100 percent USDA-certified organic produce, organic and natural groceries, including 100 percent humanely and sustainably raised meats, 100 percent free-range eggs, 100 percent pasture-based dairy, 100 percent non-GMO prepackaged bulk goods, dietary supplements, body care and household essentials.

Nutritional health coaches offer free, one-on-one personalized nutritional health coaching sessions in person, by phone or on video.

The grocer’s website also has an extensive list of products it won’t carry based on their ingredients and explains why.

“Our team of food quality experts reads every label, weeds through the minutiae of labeling regulations and keeps the concerning stuff, the not-so-good-for-my-family stuff, the fake stuff, the what-in-the-world-is-that stuff off our shelves so that you can get your shopping done in a snap and provide yourself and your family with simply the best,” it says.

The company was started by Margaret and Philip Isely in 1955 in Colorado with $200 and “a dream that everyone should be able to afford a healthy and active lifestyle,” according to the company’s information.

They were inspired by seeing nutrient-dense, natural foods and dietary supplements help their second child after she became sick and couldn’t be helped by conventional medicine.

According to the company’s website, the store plans to open in Sioux Falls sometime this summer.

Northern Tool + Equipment built a stand-alone location at The Crossroads at 12th Street and Interstate 29.

Natural Grocers “expands the pie” in the local grocery industry, Nelson said.

And the retailer chose a prime location, he added.

The franchise owner of the Buffalo Wild Wings in the same retail center has reported that the restaurant ranks among the leaders companywide, and the nearby Slim Chickens also has seen strong business.

“A good site is a good site in good times or bad,” Nelson said. “And that’s a hot, hot corner. We had a lot of interest in the site.”