Earth Fare is Closing in Lady Lake
 

Email arrived this morning, Earth Fare will stat today with 30% off. No exact date for closing.

I have shopped Earth Fare for many years, and will miss their no preservatives or additives in their products. Sadly, TV and the surrounding area didn’t have their key customers. So will be traveling to Whole Foods in Gainesville to shop for my pantry.

I hate to see any business close. But, I went there once when they first opened. I asked myself, why am I here, when I could be at Publix? I think a lot of people did the same thing.

If you ask that question you were not their key customer, and might be the reason many went once, not realizing the products they sold. Plus I am guessing the cost, of products without additives and preservatives is about 20% higher.

Those who seek or require no additives and preservatives, every shelf was stocked with everything you could think. In Publix or Winn Dixie, you might find 3-8 items on your list.

If you have always eaten processed food, too late to change now. From the time I had solid food, until now I don’t eat processed food. That means eating out is very minimal, and if I do, it can take days to recover

My wife went there as she tries to use healthy products. The issue she had with it was that they didn't carry any of the name brand health products - all of the products are either Earth Fare products or from companies she's never heard of.

Having no-name health products is fine, but when the cost was far more than the brand name products, she didn't go back.

We like their products, but almost never go anywhere that’s not golf cart accessible.

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Wait till Sprouts opens later this year, and Yes, golf cart accessible.

They have not been open that long.....too bad.

One would think the management (corporate) know enough about customer needs and wants and any given location/area demographics.

Maybe they use the build it and they will come approach!

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:censored:

What a surprise. Went last week in afternoon and only two other customers in store. Prices absurd. Adios Earth Faire. Replace with Trader Joes

If 2 Vegans have a argument, do they still call it a BEEF?

I would much rather Whole Foods. I don't like anything about Trader Joe's.

Funny! 😄

Location certainly contributed to Earth Fare’s early demise. One, it’s outside TV and too far North to attract many villagers. And two, the road construction in the area has further discouraged many who might consider visiting the store. I know we have avoided the area whenever possible. IMHO, Sprouts wii be a better location for villagers.

Went to Miller's Ale House last week and commented that the Earth Fare parking lot was empty, as usual. Wondered how long they could hold out. Looks like I got my answer. Too bad.

Great salad bar.

Their location wasn't great. I never think of going up there then add in the traffic on Rolling Acres (which would be how I'd go there). Other things against them is not golf-cart accessible. Did they advertise very much? Then the close-downs too---people maybe didn't go out to shop there much. Sad they're closing.

Capitalism at work.

I'm surprised that there isn't a Whole Foods closer to TV.

I went there for the 1st time last week to find a specific bread and planned on purchasing other items until…the over whelming terrible smell when I walked in the door. It was horrible! Walked out with only 1 item.

No surprise. It’s one of those stores you walk into once and leave without ever going back. Too expensive and they don’t have what you need if you have to go grocery shopping.

I asked a person in the cheese department why they were closing. She said there were several factors, one of which was the accessibility problem due to the road construction. A Sprouts is supposedly opening up near The Villages. I think it will be off 466.

Sprouts is scheduled to open in January. It will be located on the corner of 466 and Buena Vista.

I’m sure those things contributed, but I’ve noticed on many occasions that Total Wine, Goodwill, Miller’s Ale House, and Mission BBQ all seem to have a lot more cars parked near them than Earth Fare. I’m not sure even Whole Foods would make it there, though I could be wrong. There are many people here who would rather shop at Whole Foods than at Publix or Winn-Dixie, but I think the vast majority are too budget conscious for Whole Foods or Earth Fare. I know I am. I wouldn’t shop at Trader Joe’s either, but I think it could succeed because of its prices. I usually ship at the Winn-Dixie at Lake Sumter, which is definitely golf cart accessible, but I’d guess that only about 10% of shoppers there come in carts. So perhaps golf cart access at Earth Fare wasn’t all that important.

Mark and Linnea
 

Have to ask- did Linnea go to MSU? I might know have known her.

There is an Earth Fare in Ocala.

Really sad to hear it but not surprised, there never seem to be many people in the store. Location was probably an issue, especially for us in the southern villages (takes forever to get there). You wonder if they would have been OK with a location on 44.

Prices were high but so was the quality, I would think that high price for high quality wouldn't be an issue but who knows, maybe we're all just flat out cheap.

Joe

Whole Foods
 

There is a Whole Foods on 466 that is always busy when we go past.

There is not a Whole Foods in TV. Do you mean Fresh Market?

Earth Fare Demise
 

2022 0831 Wednesday @ 10:02
Anyone who would question the need for Earth Fare in TV's area undoubtedly does not understand what buying "healthy" foods means.

Those of us who seek foods that we consider appropriate for ourselves and / or our children would undoubtedly shop Earth Fare. We "health conscious buyers" don't just buy groceries, we "invest" in food that will keep us healthy; healthy for decades to come. We shop at The Villages Grown. We shop at Fresh Market. We will soon shop at Sprouts Farmers Market (aka Sprouts).

IMHO (in my humble opinion)
Anyone who would compare Publix* to Earth Fare for "healthy" foods is "lost." Anyone who would compare Winn Dixie to Earth Fare is hopelessly "lost."

Trader Joe's is an inexpensive chain carrying a lot of their own brand. They are popular because they are inexpensive. Aldi is an inexpensive, foreign chain. I believe that food quality is an "after thought" for those chains.

Fresh Market has really good food, but admittedly at a premium. They are my "go to" in TV for healthy foods. Sorry for overlooking the "local" mom and pop shops.

Whole Foods likely could not succeed with the current generation of residents in TV.

Why? I have increasingly come to believe that the preponderance of residents currently in TV simply does not realize that the healthy foods that they ate when young (and in the quantities that they consumed) was good, healthy food. What you buy in the grocery today is junk food, IMHO.

OMGosh, whenever I walk into a Publix (yes, they do carry some organic foods for which I am very thankful), the lines at the deli (processed foods) is disheartening.

I am like the writer who stated that he/she doesn't dine out often. I rarely dine out. Why? Think about the ingredients in the food that you are consuming What do you know about those ingredients? Is the meat 100% grass fed? Are the mashed potatoes made with organic potatoes? Is your asparagus organic? Is the water in your drink "clean?"

Am I overwhelming you yet?

Hold back when you've made your grocery purchase at your local Publix / Winn Dixie. I mean to just pause for a few minutes and look back at what people are buying. What is being rung up? Sodas, sweet teas, cereals, all with unbelievable amounts of sugar (and it is "unhealthy" sugar). Canned soups, frozen 'ready to warm' dishes with stunning quantities of sodium.

Out government must spend millions on educating the populace on what is and isn't healthy. Who listens?

Bottom Line
Strip down and look in a full length mirror. How do you look? Remember what you've been told for decades? You are what you eat.

There was one in Sarasota/Manatee Lakewood Ranch area. It also closed. With the current state of the country people may not feel comfortable spending the extra money.

Not very welcoming
 

It was not a very welcoming store. The lighting was harsh. Had an unusual odor. I can go to the Fresh Market for two items and leave with several bags. It is a pleasure to be there. Not crazy about wholefoods either, though better (imo) than earthfare. From the strong scent of patchouli oil to a $5.50 snickerdoodle cookie (1 cookie). Still, sad to see any company not make it.

For 5.50 must go into the record books as one of the largest cookies being sold. Or not being sold based on the price

besides the economic state of this country, location is a HUGE issue .. with the road construction .. for many it's hard to get there.. went a few times, wasn't a fan.

looks like corporate is closing... Web site ... Earth Fare soon will close its last store in metro Orlando. Earth Fare soon will close its last store in metro Orlando. The Asheville, North Carolina-based specialty grocer in an email said the store at 655 N. Highway 27/441 in Lady Lake will close, less than a year after it opened in November 2021.

Did you see any actual road construction? All I ever see is torn up roads and traffic barricades. But, you can get to that area by going through Sam's parking lot.

Darn, there goes my fresh ground almond butter source.

Gonna have to find another store with one of those grinders now.

Exactly. Nothing in that store "spoke" to me. Much prefer Publix and Winn Dixie. I never went back either. Can't wait to see what will take the place of this store.

Your insides may be healthier but I'm happier eating the bad stuff.

Trader Joe's would be a great in that location. Sign me up!