Longtime health food store Huckleberry Garden in McCall will close its doors for good.
Will and Meghan Minshall purchased the store back in 2021 and revitalized it, adding a teahouse and doing some remodeling.
The Minshall’s said that ever since Natural Grocers opened earlier this year, which is the chain health food store that took over the old Pancake House building in 2022, there has been a “persistent downturn.”
“The liquidation and teahouse sales have not been enough to overcome the dramatic and persistent downturn after Natural Grocers opened,” the news release said. “We are unable to fund our transition, and we cannot continue to take on rapidly accruing debt.”
The Minshalls emphasized that this tough decision simply came down to a lack of funding.
“This was a very difficult decision, and I know it’s not what anyone wanted to hear,” the news release said. “We hope you understand it was not a quick or easy one, and we have had months of trials and tears coming to terms with it. Instead of bringing us well-meaning, “Can’t you just…” suggestions, we hope you will accept that this isn’t happening for lack of ideas, or for lack of creativity, drive, or passion. It’s simply for lack of funds.”
On April 25, Huckleberry Garden will do its last round of special orders and make its last order for the store. The store will operate Tuesday through Saturday with the hope of selling as many products as possible.
“We hope to continue bringing you fresh local bread, eggs and produce, and the teahouse will also be open, serving all your favorites through May,” the release said.
The store that operated for over 25 years will officially shut down on May 25. The Minshalls write that they plan to have a farewell party on a date to be determined.
“On May 25, whatever food products we have left will go to the McCall and Donnelly food banks, and we will close our purple doors for the last time,” the release said. “We love this place. We love our community here. Thank you for everything.”
