The Asheville-based organic grocery store chain Earth Fare will close all of its locations soon. In a press release issued Monday morning, Earth Fare said "continued challenges in the retail industry impeded the company's progress, as well as its ability to refinance its debt."
Earth Fare started in Asheville in 1975, and has grown to more than 40 locations in 10 states. It's two Asheville locations are in the Westgate Shopping Center and along Hendersonville Road across from Skyland Plaza. It also has stores in Boone, North Carolina; Johnson City, Tennessee; and Greenville, South Carolina. There are also seven stores in Charlotte and its surrounding suburbs.
Earth Fare hails itself as an "authentic specialty natural and organic grocery store and full-service supermarket." In Monday's press release, the chain says it will start inventory liquidation sales at its stores, and that all employees have been notified of the impending store and corporate office closures.
"Earth Fare has been proud to serve the natural and organic grocery market, and the decision to begin the process of closing our stores was not entered into lightly. We'd like to thank our Team Members for their commitment and dedication to serving our customers, and our vendors and suppliers for their partnership," said Earth Fare. The release did not specify how many employees work for the chain.