Morristown Organic Market Hosts Pre-Opening Party

Dozens and dozens of people from around town buzzed in and out of Grassroots Natural Market all Monday evening. This new organic foods retailer hosted a pre-opening party to welcome people to check out the new place, the local vendors and food.

Appetizers such as asparagus soup were being pumped out of the kitchen while drinks were served at what will be the future Grassroots deli counter for their hot/cold fresh meals. 

This independent business is the second of two Grassroots that owner Paul Kralyevich started. The first is in Denville and this second one at 66 Morris St. is in the location of the Health Shoppe, a natural foods business that closed its doors last August.

In an Kralyevich said that "Denville is a great little town. The people have been great, and business is strong. I have a great staff of 28 people there, and it's no longer a real challenge.I needed a new adventure, and I am looking forward to it."

With some shelves still empty, he’s staying busy and looking forward to his soft opening date in about two weeks he said. The grand opening will be down the road and to be determined, he added.

“I’m really excited to be opening this store in Morristown,” said Kralyevich. “(We have) great local flavor with great local vendors, manufacturers and farmers. We can respond quickly to consumers’ needs because we’re not a big corporation, yet we’re big enough to satisfy everybody's needs.”

Grassroots’ mission statement boasts “supplying the community with a connection to our land, our food, and our neighbors. We strive to make health affordable and achievable by providing local, natural and organic foods and products, homeopathic medicine, knowledge and experience in the field - and most importantly a connection with our customers on a first name basis.”

Among those that came out were residents, business owners and town officials.

“They’ve done a phenomenal job setting this store up. This is a great turnout,” said Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty. “I think it’s going to be a very successful business in Morristown. Everyone these days are so health conscious and all for doing the right thing as far as health, body and mind, so I'm really excited about this store opening in our downtown.”

Jane Yagoda of A Gardener’s Kitchen was one of the local vendors with samples of her products: fruit and almond granola with wildflower honey and flax; double oat granola with walnuts, wildflower honey and flax.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of this as a small business person because they’re supporting the local vendor and you get to see people you haven’t seen in a while and they’re all part of the same mission, working together, supporting each other by using each other’s products,” said Yagoda.

“For example, my honey friends here (Tassot Apiaries), I use their honey in my product and I think that everybody is working toward that. Morristown is really lucky to have such a great place to go to. The owners and managers are embracing the whole movement of eating healthy and giving people the options.”

There were VIP bags for $1,000 bounty card purchasers and raffle baskets with prizes donated from various manufacturers

Related Patch Posts:

• Organic Market Set for Pre-Grand Opening
• I Saw the Sign(s): Opposite Ends of the Spectrum
• Work Begins at Grassroots Natural Market

Did you go to the pre-opener? What did you think?