Sol Food Makes a Move

Sol Food Natural & Organic Products recently relocated its health food and organic grocery store to 41564 Big Bear Boulevard in the Alpine Center. The move – though not convenient – was motivated by a couple of factors including owner Susie Lerma’s unsuccessful attempts to renegotiate her lease with her landlord. Lerma had leased the property at the height of the market and wanted to settle on a lease option that was more equitable for both parties. Unwilling to budge, Lerma looked elsewhere.

Sol Food’s new location has turned out to be a better place for Lerma. “We are open 2 hours less per day and I am still seeing the same numbers,” she says. “I suspect not everyone knows we’re here yet and I expect to a gain in sales.” The location will likely generate interest from visitors to the Valley given its position in a center part of the Big Bear Lake retail corridor.

Sol Food sells health foods and organic groceries and offers a weekly produce co-operative. Membership in the Co-op is open to anyone and requires a monthly fee, and in return, members can purchase fresh, local and seasonally grown food and organic produce at wholesale pricing. Through the Co-op, customers are able to eat healthy and support the sustainability of local farmers in the Inland Empire – allowing small farms to continue operating.

Change is hard in the beginning and benefits aren’t always obvious. In our current economic environment, it takes guts to make a radical move and get creative.