New South City market Organics has popped up at 5400 S. Kingshighway Blvd. Doors opened for business June 5. Owner Fred Ford said the majority of his inventory is certified USDA Organic. “Before I had kids, I didn’t care about my diet. When I had kids, I didn’t want them eating anything that I had been eating,” Ford said. “I began researching different types of foods, and that led me to organic food.”
The 1,600-square-foot store sells everything from fresh fruit, vegetables and frozen foods to locally sourced candles. Ford hopes to source more products from local vendors as the business grows. Ford said the shop, located just a few blocks away from his house, filled a need for organic products in the community.
“When I originally had the idea for Organics, I was thinking South County because there is nothing in that area. But I looked at places, and I couldn’t feel it,” Ford said. “So I started looking closer to home. (My family) loves going to farmers markets, and we needed something closer to home.”
Ford, who previously worked as a photographer, is dabbling in ideas to expand the store, possibly opening a cafe, adding cooking classes or even a yoga studio. “I want to grow. I want to meet my neighbors and become the place they get their groceries,” Ford said. “Eventually, I want to expand to South County, North County and even farther like St. Charles.”
Organics is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
This article appears in June 2015.