Seeds and Greens embraces farm-to-table living
- Seeds and Greens Natural Market %26 Deli
- 207 W. Pearl Street%2C New Albany
- 812-944-3800
- Hours%3A M - F 10-8%2C Saturdays 9-5%2C Closed Sundays
Seeds and Greens Natural Market & Deli drew large crowds during its opening Saturday.
Owner Stacey Freibert welcomed shoppers, proudly showing off New Albany's newest downtown business and offering samples of products and items from the store's deli.
Seeds and Greens focuses on high-quality organic, natural, and minimally processed foods, dairy, eggs and meat, house care items and homeopathic products. It will support local farmers, carrying only non-genetically modified products free from pesticides, chemicals and artificial preservatives.
Gluten-free, soy-free, and dairy-free foods are available along with vegetarian and vegan items."If you're taking a step towards a healthier life we want to be here for you," said Freibert's husband, Jeff. "We have things for vegans or people who just want to quit drinking Coke."
"I'm really excited about our raw and vegan selections," said assistant manager Nikki Pulfer, herself a vegan. "People have been so excited about our opening, the energy is incredible."
Brenda Bea Mikeska of Georgetown made a point to attend the grand opening saying, "I've been eating food, not food-like substances, for 15 years. I've had to travel to find things that I like. I'm excited that this is here."
Seeds and Greens' deli, under the direction of chef Mitch Gramann, will offer a constantly changing menu based on seasonal, locally sourced items.
Gramann, from Baltimore, most recently worked in the kitchen at Rye in Louisville. "Louisville is the biggest farm to table community," he said. "This is exactly what I want to be doing. Nothing elegant. Just good food brought to you by local farmers."
Sandwiches, soups, salads, and quiche will be menu mainstays, and beer and wine are available. Prepared grab-and-go items are offered as well.
A small yard behind the building will someday house a kitchen garden for the chef's use as well as additional outdoor seating and space for a smoker.
The market plans to host demonstrations and events, starting with a vegan fair November 8 and an event featuring local farms December 6.
Located downtown near the corner of W. Pearl and Main Streets, the market's décor is striking, featuring a vibrantly colored storefront with large plate-glass windows, 14-foot ceilings and decorative elements salvaged from the original building, including 12-foot-tall carriage doors now hanging on the walls.
The Freibert's purchased the entire building, with Aunt Artie's Antique Mall, facing Main Street, continuing to do business in the original 1852 three-story portion of the building and using a 1922 addition for Stacey's business.
The original building, known as Woodward Hall, featured the city's first public hall on the third floor. The 1922 addition was built as an indoor loading facility for wholesale grocer Rowe-Fawcett, which occupied Woodward Hall at the time.
Seeds and Greens is adding to the revitalization of New Albany's downtown. As State Representative Ed Clere told the crowd of around 50, "There are probably more people here than there were in downtown altogether on a Saturday ten years ago."
People continued to come after the ribbon cutting, filling the store aisles and shopping baskets. Freibert said the crowds didn't surprise her. "The store had 1,500 followers on Facebook and I hadn't even opened the door," she said. "Everybody is so excited about natural foods. People have just been waiting for us to open."
Seeds and Greens Natural Market & Deli
Seedsandgreensmarket.com
812-944-3800
207 W. Pearl Street, New Albany
Hours: M – F 10 -8, Saturdays 9 – 5, Closed Sundays