Veggywood

Located on Hillhurst Ave in Los Feliz, Nature Mart has been providing hipsters and aging hippies with overpriced organic produce and vegan/vegetarian products since 1974. A veritable den of vintage stores, coffee shops and outdoor brunch spots, Los Feliz is inexplicably missing one thing: a Whole Foods market. Although my 2nd favorite WF is a hop, skip and jump over to Glendale (favorite WF being 3rd & Fairfax), when you are out of Tofutti cream cheese or Soy Delicious ice cream at the worst moment– Nature Mart is where it’s at.

The store feels like it hasn’t changed much since it’s opening in the 70′s, and I doubt it has. The actual produce section is small but totally organic, with the majority of the store devoted to packaged, frozen and refrigerated products including a great selection of vegan cheeses, fake meats and non-dairy ice cream and frozen meals. They also carry tons of supplements, natural beauty products, and random meat type things like buffalo (can you say “ick”??).

In general, I kind of find most people who work there to be rude and unhelpful, but it’s such a tiny store, you don’t need to much help to find things. Unlike WF and its bountiful variety of products, you are unlikely to find stuff here that you didn’t know existed. On the other hand, if you are vegan, you know you will always find find your staples (if at a hefty price hike).

And one day I hope to understand the hype surrounding The Bulk Bin next door, a store spoken about in hushed tones of awe usually reserved for the inside of churches and when describing Scarlett Johansson. However, every one of the handful of times I’ve ventured over there, I find the store musty and smelling of wheat grass. It always seems to be dirty and strangely out of everything. I have yet to be converted.

Nature Mart
2080 Hillhurst Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 660-0052

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