What’s so great about health food?
Green-haired Hanna Desmedt of Boonton thought for a beat or two.
“It makes me feel like a good person,” the teen replied.
She had plenty of company in the feel-good category on Monday at Grassroots Natural Market, Morristown’s new health store. A pre-launch party welcomed future customers who paid up to $1,000 for shopping discount cards. The 7,000-square-foot space at 66 Morris St. was packed.
Please click icon below for captions.
Grassroots’ actual opening should follow within two weeks, according to owner Paul Kralyevich.
Guests at Monday’s bash said they can hardly wait.
“It’s been too long,” said Morris Township resident Judy Martinez, who’s had to range farther afield since the Health Shoppe closed last summer at the same location. “What we’ve been missing–supplements and takeout food–you can’t get this kind of stuff at any other place.”
“I’m very excited. The last few months have been inconvenient,” said another Township resident, Grace Tung, who owns Bikram Yoga in Cedar Knolls.
Jennifer Wehring, marketing director for the Morristown Partnership, started working at the Health Shoppe as a high schooler and stayed for 11 years. She would love returning on a part-time basis to Grassroots, “if they’ll have me,” she said. “I love small businesses. This will help me do my job better.”
One of the staffers, Matt Clohosey, said he revamped his diet after being hired last year at the Grassroots store in Denville. He is 60 pounds lighter now. The secret?
“A lot of granola,” Matt joked.
Eating healthy requires a little more money and effort than scarfing down junk food, he conceded. “But it evens out. It’s a fair trade,” he said.
Another staff member, Joe Figarelli, said he was a late convert to organic food. Now it helps keep him trim for National Guard duty, he said.
“Some things are acquired tastes,” he explained. “I never ate tofu. Now I eat it all the time.”
Katherina Estrada, 13, of Rockaway Township, likes Grassroots’ emphasis on gluten-free products. Sure, a burger with fries would be great.
“You crave it,” she acknowledged, munching a “wholesome” chocolate chip cookie from Wholly Wholesome of Chester. “But a lot of [healthy] things taste good and make up for it.”
Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty suggested Grassroots’ location–a short walk from the train station–may benefit the environment as well as waistlines. Regional customers can leave their cars at home and come by train, he said.
And this health food stuff is starting to grow on him, too.
“I never thought I would eat jalapeno kale,” the Mayor said. “It was great.”
Photos by Scott Schlosser. Please click icon below for captions.
