Natural Grocers to open 44th store in Colorado

Natural Grocers has announced the upcoming opening of its 44th Colorado location at 3165 N. Central Park Blvd. in Denver. The family-operated organic and natural grocery retailer based in Lakewood, Colo., plans to host a grand opening celebration for the store on Jan. 7, 2023.

"We've been looking for the perfect spot to open a store in the Central Park area of Denver for over 10 years. As I child who took one of the last flights out from what used to be the airport in the same area, it's exciting to see how much the Central Park region has grown," Raquel Isely, vice president of marketing for Natural Grocers, said in a release. "It's now a bustling neighborhood full of vibrant people and businesses. As one of our ‘Five Founding Principles’ states, we are 'committed to our communities', and we love that we are now able to bring access to healthy food at an always affordable price to even more people in our home state of Colorado."

Natural Grocers, which sells USDA-certified organic produce exclusively, will offer discounts on select produce items as part of the grand opening event. Organic bunched spinach will sell for $1.69 each; kiwi for 50 cents each; spaghetti squash for 99 cents a pound and aloe vera leaves for 79 cents per pound.

Additional high-quality products also will be available at “impressive discounts,” says Natural Grocers, including Natural Grocers Brand Organic Cheese shreds and slices, bacon and bacon alternatives, Natural Grocers Brand bulk organic rolled oats, and bulk organic seedless raisins.

In addition to 100% organic produce, shoppers at the new Central Park store will have access to organic and natural groceries; 100% free-range eggs; 100% pasture-based dairy; 100% non-GMO prepackaged bulk goods; dietary supplements; body care; and household essentials at “Always Affordable Prices,” says the company. Natural Grocers says it prioritizes humanely sourced and sustainably raised meats.

In the coming months, the Central Park location is expected to include The Cottage Craft Beer section — Natural Grocers' select offerings of curated craft beer, hard kombucha and hard seltzer.

Sustainable building

The company’s new approximately 13,330-square-foot-store was constructed with sustainable building features and energy-saving innovations, such as non-toxic building materials and 100% LED lighting, for a lighter environmental footprint.

The Central Park store is Natural Grocers' second Colorado store to feature a new CO2 refrigerant system, designed to save energy and provide enhanced environmental protection compared to conventional refrigeration technologies. Though more expensive and complex to install than traditional systems, it's another way Natural Grocers is prioritizing the health of its communities and the planet, the company said.

Nutritional education

The Central Park community will have the support of Natural Grocers' Nutritional Health Coaches for their health and wellness journeys with free, one-on-one personalized nutritional health coaching sessions.

Customers are invited to book a free session, which will be available in person or via phone or video, by visiting the Natural Grocers website. The new location also includes a Nutrition Education Center, specially designed to be a community space for in-store classes, recipe demonstrations and guest speaker events.

Food Bank of the Rockies partnership

Natural Grocers has partnered with Food Bank of the Rockies across its Colorado stores for over a decade with its "Bring Your Own Bag" program. This community outreach will extend to the Central Park location. Each time a customer brings their own shopping bag, Natural Grocers will donate 5 cents per shopping trip to the Food Bank, which provides food and necessities to people in need across the state.

"Food Bank of the Rockies is proud of our longtime partnership with Natural Grocers and incredibly appreciative of its conscientious customers, who, by bringing their own bags, help ignite the power of community to feed our neighbors experiencing hunger. Together with Natural Grocers and the Bring Your Own Bag campaign, Food Bank of the Rockies has been able to provide enough food for upwards of 4 million meals, which help nourish and strengthen our communities," Erin Pulling, president and CEO of Food Bank of the Rockies, said.

Natural Grocers says it will make a special $2,500 donation to Food Bank of the Rockies at the opening ceremonies to raise awareness of this partnership and to mobilize the public to help nourish its communities.

Grand opening

Natural Grocers will kick off the festivities at 8:20 a.m. on Jan. 7, with a donation presentation to the Food Bank of the Rockies, followed by an official ribbon-cutting ceremony. Additional community leaders will help welcome the Central Park community into the new store at 8:30 a.m.

Shopper giveaways on Jan. 7 include:

• The first 150 customers in line will receive a mystery Natural Grocers gift card with varying amounts between $5-$500.
• The first 500 customers will receive a free Natural Grocers handcrafted Ecuadorian hat.
• Customers can spin the Natural Grocers prize wheel for a chance to win prizes. 
• From Jan. 7-21, customers will have the chance to win prizes including an Aventon e-bike, a $500 Natural Grocers gift card, a Vitamix Blender and more. Entry forms will be available at the store.