The Organic Grocery That’ll Have You Dreaming of Trips to the Store

Trader Joe’s has made affordable organic grocery shopping a household reality since first opening its doors in Pasadena, CA in 1967, followed by the game-changing opening of Whole Foods Market in Austin, TX thirteen years after. Hundreds of stores later, they’ve each set a trend for buying organic at the household level, and gourmet grocers across the country have followed suit.

Recently, Erewhon Organic Grocer and Cafe opened its fourth SoCal location on Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica, bringing grocery shopping to a whole new level. Independently and family-owned for fifty years, the health food store turned thoughtfully curated market is known for its emphasis on 100% organic produce, wide variety of niche superfoods (get your adaptogens here!), and over-the-top juice and tonic bar.

Despite the plentiful options for online grocery shopping, from Amazon Fresh to Instacart to Farmstead, there is something decidedly satisfying in taking to the aisles yourself, browsing the latest and greatest in grocery finds—especially in digs like this. Erewhon Santa Monica’s space is bright and airy, thanks to wraparound windows and skylights and outdoor dining on a garden terrace. Bonus amenities like an Italian-imported pizza oven and kombucha on tap will have you making any excuse to “run to the store”—and perhaps staying to make it a meal.