Broad Street grocer and refill store The Earth Pantry is closing after nearly two years in business, but that doesn’t mean its mission to promote sustainability is done.
The store announced its closing sale on social media on May 28, offering a quarter sale on all its items, and even selling the furniture. The “bittersweet” decision to close came amid business slowing down as the city recovered after Hurricane Helene, explains owner Alexia Redman.
Another reason to reconsider how to move forward presented itself as Redman and her husband thought about their options.
“When we were deciding if we were going to push through and continue, we found out that I’m pregnant,” she said. “Which is great, and then the farm has also been doing really well, that we decided that this had its period, and let’s focus on the farm and our family.”
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The Redmans, from their Pinefield Eco Farm in Hephzibah, will continue to make the goods sold at the store, such as their organic skincare and hair care products. Sometime after the new baby arrives, they may also consider launching a mobile market. Redman has even created a document for customers to reference for ordering goods from the farm.
“God always has a plan… we don’t want this to be a goodbye,” Redman said. “I spent so much time trying to teach people and educate them on these products that they fall in love with and trust. I don’t want to just leave them hanging, so I’ve created a document several can get it directly from now, yeah, and still get what they need.”
Redman also notes that they have been making additions to the farm, planting blueberries, cucurbits such as watermelon, squash and pumpkins, as well as wildflowers. Baby chicks are for sale there, now, and soon visitors may be able to come pick flowers and blueberries. Pinefield Eco also conducts pollinator research, and is currently studying locally native bees.
The store has ultimately been a blessing, Redman said, as the community fostered since November of 2023 has been “the best thing out of any of it.”
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“God put us downtown for a reason. I think we got to meet just so many wonderful people that I wouldn’t have met if I wasn’t downtown,” she said, also expressing gratitude for the opportunity to educate more people on health, the environment and sustainability. “It’s just not common discussion here so I think it’s cool that we were able to kind of push and educate that side that people weren’t thinking about before. I feel like we did a lot in a short amount of time and I’m proud for it.”
The Earth Pantry, at 1026 Broad St., will have its last day on June 12. The store will welcome visitors to a Goodbye Party on June 7.
Skyler Andrews is a reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
