PITTSFIELD, Maine — A natural food and health products shop has returned to Pittsfield for what the new owners said is an underserved customer base in the area.
Steve and Judith Long, who have opened New Leaf Naturals in the Somerset Plaza, said their products were in high demand even before their grand opening on Saturday.
“When we were setting up, we had people banging on the doors,” Steve said. “People wanted to know when we were going to be open and wanted to buy our products before they were on the shelves.”
“It’s just been phenomenal,” Judith added.
New Leaf Naturals is in the same location as Monica’s Naturally, a heath food store that closed over the summer, but not for financial reasons according to the Longs.
“We saw her books and she was making a profit,” said Steve. “We wanted to just buy the business, but it all happened so fast that we couldn’t get everything in place in time.”
The Longs, who are from Corinna, said that while most of their merchandise falls in the health and wellness category, the plan is to try to cater to customers’ individual needs. The store carries a variety of gluten-free products — which are highly sought after in the Pittsfield area, said Steve — and Asian cooking products aimed at some of the international students who attend Maine Central Institute. With a selection of brewing supplies, the store also targets beer buffs. Another theme is Maine-made. On the shelves are coffee and bread from Skowhegan, Little Lads products as well as local eggs. The Longs also plan to carry raw milk and other local products.
In addition to a customer base they know is out there, the Longs have the support of the Natural Living Center, a health food store with a 33-year history in Bangor. New Leaf Naturals will acquire most of its merchandise through the larger store and benefit from the knowledge and guidance of owners and founders Bill and Barbara Geiger.
Bill Geiger, who was at New Leaf Naturals for the grand opening Saturday, said he first knew the Longs as customers. He agreed to help them because he saw a need for a wellness products retailer in Pittsfield. Geiger said he and Barbara are also starting to eye retirement.
“Hopefully, they’ll eventually buy me out,” he said. “They’re willing to try, and we’re willing to help them. Hopefully, it will help my wife and I out in the long run.”
Geiger said he has watched health and wellness products flourish over the years, which he attributes to the fact that “people have found that they feel better” when they choose healthful foods. Even with grocery stores and other large retailers delving into the market, Geiger said stores like his and New Leaf Naturals will always have a niche.
“We still have the service,” he said. “We know our products.”
The Longs said that is how they’ll run New Leaf Naturals. Steve said he has held a long-term interest in herbs. Judith has studied homeopathic remedies such as iridology, identifying body system maladies through patterns in the eye’s iris, and reflexology therapy, which involves the application of pressure to certain areas of the body, usually feet and hands. Judith said she wants to use her knowledge to answer questions, not convert people.
“I don’t impose those methods on people who don’t agree with them,” she said. “We’ll help with whatever path our customers are working toward.”
Pittsfield Town Manager Kathryn Ruth said there has been a pronounced need for natural products since Monica’s closed.
“New Leaf Naturals features a lot of new products that we have not had available on the shelves here in town and also provides an opportunity for advice in different fields by the owners,” Ruth said. “This is great news for Pittsfield.”
New Leaf Naturals is located in the Somerset Plaza, just off Interstate 95 Exit 150. For more information call 487-8222 or visit the web site www.newleafnaturals.org.
