Earth Fare to close Columbus store at end of March

Earth Fare, a natural and organic grocery chain, will close its Columbus store at the end of March after six years in the market.

When the store, at 1440 Gemini Place in Gemini Place Towne Center, opened on April 25, 2012, it was seen as Polaris’ response to Trader Joe’s at Easton.

But, “despite the hard work of our team members, the real-estate challenges associated with this location have proven too difficult to overcome,” the company said in a statement.

The closing was part of a review of its portfolio of Three Earth Fare markets remain open in Ohio, all in the northeast. This one in the Akron suburb of Fairview Park is one of them. locations, the company said.

“Closing a store is a very difficult decision, and we want to thank our team members for their dedication and our shoppers for their loyalty.”

Earth Fare, founded in 1975

in Asheville, North Carolina, is a chain whose “food philosophy” prohibits products containing high-fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils, as well as artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavors and fragrances. The chain also refuses to sell any meat or dairy containing antibiotics or growth hormones.

The 27,000-square-foot Polaris-area store was Earth Fare’s fourth in Ohio.

Earth Fare opened its first store in Ohio in May 2012 in the Akron area, and had planned to open other stores around the state. A location in the Dayton area that opened around the same time as the Akron store closed in 2016.

Three stores remain in the state, all in northeastern Ohio.

The grocer has 46 locations across 10 states.