ALLENTOWN, Pa. — It's time to say goodbye to Garden Gate Natural Foods.
At least, that's what owner Rich Samar and his partner Sally Harris keep saying — "It's time."
After 36 years of business, the two said they're ready to throw in the towel and enjoy retirement while tidying up projects in their personal lives that have been pushed to the side due to business ownership. And after more than three decades of business — operating in a way that has left some of the community feeling less like customers and more like family — patrons are grieving alongside the couple as they shop the store's retirement sale.
Monet Ho-Sang, of Allentown, was one of them.
She said she's frequented Garden Gate Natural Foods, located at 17 S 9th St. in Allentown, after moving back to the area in 2020, and hasn't stopped going since — she said she's there almost every week.
On Thursday, she stocked up on some favorites: coconut oil, organic honey, tea and several bottles of Bew Dr. kombucha. Ho-Sang said she picks up passion flower — an item Harris ordered to the shop just for her — and organic bananas the most.
"Anything I need, she'll order it for me," Ho-Sang said. "It's nice, because I live by myself, so ordering stuff can get expensive with shipping."
She choked up shopping through the store, adding "I'm getting emotional just thinking about it," closing at the end of the month. She'll get to say her goodbyes another time though.
"I get paid on Thursday, I'll be back," Ho-Sang said with a laugh.
Outside, longtime customer Mark Williams hugged Harris and Samar goodbye and took a picture with the two by the storefront. He said he's been coming to the store for a decade.
"It's been a joy patronizing a small business versus going to some of the larger businesses," Williams said. "I'm definitely gonna miss them."
Harris and Samar said they'll miss their customers too.
"You can have a beautiful store, but without customers, it's nothing."Richard Samar, owner of Garden Gate Natural Foods Store
Samar said he teared up several times during a phone interview Wednesday.
"There's no way around it, it's very, very hard," he said. "It's like a family. People finding out are coming in crying... Nothing lasts forever, but you look at all those good times... and I have a family of how many people over 36 years."
Still, he's approached it with a positive mindset, expressing gratitude for his good health and such a supportive community over the years.
"That store was my baby, my child," he said. "And number one, it was the store, and number two, it was the customers. You can have a beautiful store, but without customers, it's nothing."
As times changed retail trends, Harris said she's noticed plenty of "good people, nice people" come through the Garden Gate Natural Foods door, adding many just like to socialize. She attributed that communal atmosphere to Samar's late mother Ann Samar, who would "kind of make friends" when she worked on Sundays.
"It's been a nice ride," Harris said.
For now, the couple will continue to break down the stained Ikea shelves throughout the 860-square-foot store as patrons empty out the remainder of their stock until they officially close their doors on April 30.
From there, Nowhere Coffee Co., formerly located in Emmaus, will take over the space.
