Earth Fare to return to Oldsmar shopping center
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Mar 15, 2022

Earth Fare, an organic and natural grocer, is returning to its former location in Oldsmar.

In February 2020, the North Carolina-based grocer announced it was closing all of its stores, including its four Tampa Bay locations — among them the Woodlands Square store at 3136 Tampa Road in Oldsmar. After announcing it did not have the money to continue operations, the company began liquidating all of its stores.

Approximately two years after liquidating its property the company is ready to make its return in Tampa Bay, and on April 6, the 24,000 square foot grocer will once again anchor the Oldsmar plaza.

An investor group led by Hulsing Enterprises and its president and CEO Dennis Hulsing bought Earth Fare out of bankruptcy in March 2020 and soon began relaunching the chain.

“Earth Fare was a vital part of the Oldsmar community, and we are thrilled to reopen our doors to provide families with clean, all-natural and organic options,” Laurie Aker, director of marketing at Earth Fare, said in a release. “Our team is back and better than ever, and we can’t wait to provide shoppers with the clean, healthy foods they’ve been missing.”

The Oldsmar location will be the fifth store in Florida alongside the Seminole, Ocala, Orlando and Lady Lake markets. The grocer is known for its 100% organic coffee and juice bar, a hot bar, pizza station, hundreds of grab-and-go items and a produce department that has more than 300 certified organic items. Its main marketing claim is that it sells foods that are free from artificial colors, added hormones, artificial fats and artificial sweeteners.

Woodlands Square’s location will also include an indoor/outdoor café with free wifi. Curbside pickup and delivery via Instacart will be available shortly after opening.

The company is holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:45 a.m. on April 6 with doors opening to guests at 8 a.m. A gift card giveaway is planned for the first 200 guests in line and complimentary Big Storm Coffee Co. coffee, samples and product demonstrations are planned throughout the day as are giveaways.

The group has announced it has “plans of ongoing expansion.”