The Observation Deck

I just heard that Nature's Bin will be closing their doors soon. November 12th will be the last day of business. Thank you for the support of our community over the years.

Thanks for sharing. Whole Foods must have been the final nail. It always had Heinen's and GE to compete with but Whole Foods probably gained a healthy chunk of Nature Bin's core customers.

That's a shame but you could see it coming. I've gone there a couple times a week for 20 years. Heck I remember going to the original store on Madison back in the 80's. But now even Marc's sells organic and "natural" stuff, and the high-margin specialty stuff is so easy to buy online. Two Sundays ago I went and the produce was picked over and unappealing. Just last Sunday, two days ago, I wanted to make my weekly produce run, and for the first time went to Heinen's instead....

Volunteered there when it opened on Sloane. Lived on Northwood at the time. Great place. Glad to hear they will keeping the training peice of their mission.

Another Lakewood institution ends....is this another example of the "progress" that City Hall is bragging about?

Michael Deneen wrote:Another Lakewood institution ends....is this another example of the "progress" that City Hall is bragging about?

If it's true.

I wonder, how can anyone at City Hall comment or express concern for the handful of jobs lost and the economic impact when they tout the loss of 1,500 high paying medical jobs as no big deal?

so sorry to hear that, I gave as them as much business as I could, when I was in the area, hope they continue to cater,

Nature's Bin did themselves in. They knew when Earth Fare was coming, yet did nothing to update the store or make themselves unique. Then Whole Foods came in, and once again, they did nothing to differentiate themselves. We kept going, and the produce was in deplorable condition, even the quality of prepared foods began to deteriorate. Seems to me like they were resigned to losing the battle without having put in any fight. Bad management did them in. What a shame.

Take a look at a map and look at what is on each side of the Bin - the Clifton Pointe development and McKinley Place on each end.

Hmmm. Think about that for a moment.

Bridget Conant wrote:Take a look at a map and look at what is on each side of the Bin - the Clifton Pointe development and McKinley Place on each end.

Hmmm. Think about that for a moment.

Exactly what I was thinking, Bridget! When I moved here 10 years ago, the movie theater closed and McDonalds moved from Sloane Avenue to Detroit Avenue, the former site of the theater. I asked Councilman Anderson how he could support such a loss. Where was the advertising to find a buyer that would want to run a theater? I suggested a West side Cedar Lee with an attached restaurant... imagine that, dinner and a movie within walking distance! His response was that it was privately owned and they already had buyers in mind. Hmmm.... what a deal they must have gotten with Mickey Ds!

As a consequence of this move, the Bin branched out to the former McDonalds site with their vocational training program and catering. While Whole Foods certainly did not help the situation,it is not the entire story.

I spoke with multiple folks at the bin this afternoon expressing my dismay and encouraged them to vote against 64. Something really stinks in our city and we cannot sit by while we lose such tremendous assets in our community. According to Mayor Summers at the L2L meeting this evening, they already have plans to develop that property in 2017! I assume the building will be leveled in no time for developers to build their 300k condos. Profit for the greedy at the cost of jobs for those with disabilities. It is outrageous!

Mayor Summers already has plans to develop the Nature's Bin location?

What a coincidence!

How long has he known the Bin was closing? Hmmmm.

Bridget Conant wrote:Take a look at a map and look at what is on each side of the Bin - the Clifton Pointe development and McKinley Place on each end.

Hmmm. Think about that for a moment.

So if I am following Bridget's logic. And correct me if I am wrong. It sounds like if they were able to hold another year. The Bin would have had an additional customer base that may have supported the Bin. Via the McKinley development.

Also, i talked to a grocery store owner and good friend tonight at our Tuesday night soccer game. He had full view of the books and said that the Bin was doing really well about 2 years ago. Big numbers, like 6m per year. Then the owner/manager retired or moved away from the business about a year ago. The numbers took a nose dive after this happened.

Bridget Conant wrote:Take a look at a map and look at what is on each side of the Bin - the Clifton Pointe development and McKinley Place on each end.

Hmmm. Think about that for a moment.

So if I am following Bridget's logic. And correct me if I am wrong. It sounds like if they were able to hold another year. The Bin would have had an additional customer base that may have supported the Bin. Via the McKinley development.

Also, i talked to a grocery store owner and good friend tonight at our Tuesday night soccer game. He had full view of the books and said that the Bin was doing really well about 2 years ago. Big numbers, like 6m per year. Then the owner/manager retired or moved away from the business about a year ago. The numbers took a nose dive after this happened.

Glad to see that Conicopia will still be fully engaged at training and preparing workers for the workforce.

Patrick Wadden wrote:[
Glad to see that Conicopia will still be fully engaged at training and preparing workers for the workforce.

Patrick

My wife and I have been huge supporters of Nature's Bin since Brian Daw started it next to Coffee Pot Restaurant, where I met Deb.

We have stayed in close contact with many of the trainees, students and members.

What shocked me about all of this, is I too heard they were doing well, right up until last year's fundraiser. Then suddenly there was the same language coming out about Nature's Bin as Lakewood Hospital. You talk to people you know that say it is making money, releases and conversation from some, "It's not doing well."

I guess the Foundation is doing OK and is well funded which could save the training side. It was interesting to see the new regime added health and wellness to their mission statement./

Hmmmmmm, wonder what will happen to all of that prime property near the new McKinley homes?

Great group of people, workers, and tremendous asset to the West End of Lakewood, wait!!! Maybe that newly formed WestEnd "WE" group could have some ideas?!!

This was added to show the new wellness added since new group came in.

Also, everyone should think of writing the Board letters of support/ The officers appear on this page too.



.

I sat next to DeFrancesco at some Chamber event, within the last 6 months or so, soon after she had been appointed the new President (I think that was her new title.)

I told her, "Watch out who they put on your board, they will decide to close you down." And she replied, not to worry, everything's OK.

So - was she unaware? Or was she the "closer"? Don't know, but it suspiciously falls into the same category as the hospital.