Juli’s Natural Foods opens at new location

Juli’s Natural Foods is wrapping up its week-long grand opening at a new location on Main Street in downtown Grinnell. The store was previously located behind Hidden Treasures Consignment on West Street under the name Juli’s Health and More Foods Store.

“It’s a great move for Juli and a really smart location,” said Angela Harrington, President of the Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce.

The store has expanded to include several new products at the new location and has received positive feedback from the community.

“It seemed a little bit bigger to me and it also just seemed a little bit better organized,” said Eva Metz ’14. “Also the location is more convenient to campus definitely. It’s really easy to get to; everybody should go.”

Juli Stanford, manager of the store, has extensive experience in sales and retail, which has enabled her to run her store smoothly, eventually expanding to a larger location.

“I’m like Superwoman of the sales retail world,” Stanford said. “I’ve been in retail for years so this is kind of just very easy, just different products.”

Stanford has been interested in natural foods and alternative health options since her childhood and now she has found a passion in educating others on this topic.

“I grew up with a mom that fed me stuff out of the garden, canned vegetables, fruits, and we were always taught as young children to eat very healthy,” Stafford said. “I hate to see people that don’t, it’s a sad thing.”

Many people have already benefited from the education and products offered by Juli’s Foods, including her new employee Jenny Thorton.

“It’s pretty cool. I learn a lot of different things and maybe [I will] show how to make my family eat healthy and different alternatives,” Thorton said.

Stanford has made an effort to cater to Grinnell College students, knowing that many students are conscientious eaters and have interest in organic and local foods.

“This is a good thing for Grinnell to have something like this, a different alternative to where you can eat healthier and nutritious without the pesticides and herbicides that you find in today’s society,” Standford said. “And local foods, there’s a lot of local grown companies that supply foods for this.”

Grinnell College students can receive a 10 percent discount at Juli’s Foods when they show their P-cards at the register, in addition to the various sales and specials the store regularly offers. The store is offering free samples and goody bags through Saturday as part of its grand opening and Stanford encourages students and community members to come check out the store.

“I loved the free samples,” Metz said. “I’m a sucker for those and she let me eat every different kind and she told me about them, they were so good.”

Juli’s Natural Foods is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and closed on Sundays.