When Alexia Gonzalez was little, she says, she wanted to save the ocean. Once she started college, still ardent about caring for the environment, she began actively pursuing ways to do so, beginning a path that ultimately led to a new business in downtown Augusta.
“I kind of jumped around three majors, because I couldn’t quite feel what was the right way,” Gonzalez said. During the COVID pandemic, she took her concerns online, starting a blog sharing info and advice on living a more sustainable lifestyle.
The blog discussed topics such as traveling, home care and personal wellness. A year ago, this led to the launching of Earth Pantry.
“I struggled from eczema, so I was making a lot of my own products to avoid chemicals,” she said. “So I saw a bunch of retail stores pop up around the country.”
Gonzalez was inspired to offer her own products for sale, participating in several pop-up events, including the Pop-Up Shop at the Augusta Visitors Center, the Holiday Bazaar at Evans High School and the Holiday Celebration in downtown Sugar Hill, Ga.
The Earth Pantry opened its brick-and-mortar location, at the former site of Sew Co. on Broad Street, on Nov. 4, with a fanfare-filled grand opening. Wednesday morning, Nov. 8, the Downtown Development Authority of Augusta hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to welcome the new grocery store.
“We’ve been in a food desert for quite some time,” said Augusta Commissioner Jordan Johnson, who attended the ribbon-cutting, telling Gonzalez that the downtown market is something the area needs. “We’re slowly starting to peel back that onion: how do you start making sure that healthy options are available for people downtown? And your vision is getting us to that point.”
The store offers dried fruits, snacks and other unperishable goods, vinegars and olive oil and bake mixes. There are also plenty of personal care products, ranging from toothpaste and dish detergent to conditioners and soaps.
To discourage wastefulness and encourage frugality — as well as to be more economically accessible — the store has sections where shoppers can sample or refill products — such as shampoos, lotions and conditioners —in their own containers. There’s even a station where customers can make their own almond milk.
All of the products are made by U.S. brands, or made by Gonzalez herself. She plans to partner with local farmers to supply her dry goods and, ultimately, fresh produce, which she often sold at her pop-ups.
Displayed on the wall near the store’s entrance is a quote from Genesis 2:15, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” Below this is a list of the business’ values, which include making healthy choices available to everyone.
Gonzalez aims to use her business as a means to combine her passion for environmental sustainability and her Christian faith, she says, also citing Matthew 22.
“Jesus told us to love God and to love people, and how can you properly love God if you don’t take care of the art and the creation that he gave for us?” said Gonzalez. “I really wanted to use this place to kind of bring everyone together, because we’re all on the same team and we all just want to protect our bodies, protect our future, protect the next generation and protect the planet.”
The Earth Pantry is at 1026 Broad St. For more info, visit its website at www.theearthpantry.com.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
