Natural Food Store Switcharoo

Island Naturals is moving from its current location near Mall Wort to a bigger space in the Hilo Shopping Center on Kilauea Avenue. Another natural food chain called Down to Earth, which some Honolulu residents may be familiar with, is moving into Island Natch's old spot. This is inevitably going to lead to some confusion, when people come to the old spot and see the new store; some folks may assume that Island Natch got bought out. This is not, I repeat, NOT, the case.

I wish both stores the best, though I admit to being a bit biased toward the Island Natch with its home-town roots. My general impression is that the Island Naturals chain and its owner, Russel Ruderman, have been pretty responsible corporate citizens for Hawaii Island over the years, and I hope Down to Earth will follow their example.