‘This is terrible’: Earth Fare customers react to York County grocery store closings
Rock Hill customers were disappointed Monday after specialty grocer Earth Fare announced its plan to close all locations, including two in York County.
The Asheville-based company, which sells organic and natural foods, cited financial challenges in a press release as the reason for closing its approximately 50 stores.
Earth Fare recently renovated its Rock Hill store on Cherry Road, and opened the Fort Mill location — on Len Patterson Road — about a year ago.
Cindy Dixon, of Rock Hill, said she came to the store Monday afternoon as soon as she heard the news. In the store, she filled multiple bags with coffee beans.
“This is terrible,” she said. “I get this Tanzanian Peaberry coffee. Sometimes three bags at a time. And I don’t know where I am going to get my coffee.”
She said she comes to the store almost every week and Monday was the busiest she’s seen it.
“I know it doesn’t stay that busy,” she said. “But I rely on some products here. I don’t know what I am going to do.”
Rebecca Ruddy, of Rock Hill, said she also relies on the specialty grocer.
“I’m really sad because there’s certain products I can get only at this store,” she said. “And I enjoy the employees here. They’re really nice.”
Ruddy said she doesn’t trust other grocers that sell organic products.
“They may say it’s organic, but it’s just iffy with some of the products you get,” she said. “The cleanliness here is a lot better than a Walmart or other places.”
Caleb Sauls, of Rock Hill, worked at the Earth Fare in Rock Hill a few years ago and stopped in Monday to talk with some of his former co-workers.
“It’s sad,” he said. “I like the people. You’ve got a really good population here.”
Earth Fare began inventory liquidation sales Monday, company spokesperson Jennifer Mercer said. Each location will close once its inventory is sold out and the grocer anticipates the sales will run through the end of February, she said.
This story was originally published February 4, 2020 at 11:46 AM.
