Back in 1978, when some thought eating healthy was just fad, these two brothers knew better.
Some thought eating healthy was just a fad in the ‘70s, but Chris and Kevin Schneider, owners of Mother Earth’s Storehouse, knew better.
“I started eating healthy while I was in college,” said younger brother Kevin, “and I realized this could be a good opportunity for me. We saw a growing need for healthy products, not only food, but all things health-related.”
Chris rented a fifteen hundred square foot space in 1978 and dove in, while Kevin finished up college and later joined Chris in 1981. Both brothers had retail background, helping the original storefront to become a beloved local chain whose Kingston flagship operation now spans a full 18,000 square feet.
For eight straight years, Mother Earth’s Storehouse has been ranked as the best health food store in the valley by Hudson Valley Magazine readers.
for eight straight years, mother earth’s storehouse has been ranked as the best health food store in the valley
“We offer certified organic produce, and we’re always looking for the best products and staying on top of trends in the industry,” said Kevin. “We employ healthy eating educators that are available to answer questions, do cooking demonstrations, provide recipes, and give store tours. We want to be known as a resource to our customers, not just a store.”
The store tours are custom tailored. If you need or want to go gluten-free or vegan, or start any other healthy diet, Mother Earth’s educators will show you exactly what your options are.
The Kingston store, tucked into a little mall along Route 9W, offers a café, a full deli counter, and a juice bar, making it one of the region’s lesser-known culinary treasures. Reviewers on Yelp and Facebook have used phrases like “to die for” and “best ever” in discussing the healthy soups, sandwiches, baked goods, and sides, which include sweet potato salad and smoked trout. The Poughkeepsie store has a full deli as well.
“We never take customers for granted—we listen to what our customers want, and we do our best to deliver it to them,” said Kevin. “We also offer a very wide range of alternative products, and that has helped with our customer growth.”
With customer feedback, the Schneider brothers have built a store that offers a vast variety of bulk foods and teas, a comprehensive selection of personal care products, a local organic produce department, educational programming and cooking demos, and customer-friendly policies, like 10 percent off on cases and rewards cards. Being part of the major cultural shift toward living healthily and locally has been rewarding for the brothers.
“We strive to stay the best, which can be tough, and take enormous pride in succeeding at that,” said Kevin. “Being able to provide a place for people to come to help live healthier lives...
“we employ healthy eating educators that are available to answer questions, do cooking demonstrations, provide recipes, and give store tours. we want to be known as a resource to our customers, not just a store.”
knowing that we are providing healthy living options to our community, is a joy in itself.”
