Country Sun Natural foods, a supermarket on California Avenue that specializes in organic food, will shut down by the end of the year due to a decline in business.

According to Scott Otte, general manager and CEO of Country Sun Natural Foods, due to a shift in Palo Alto’s community regarding grocery shopping after the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a decline in sales and the market never recovered. The grocery store will shut down by Dec. 24, 2023.

Along with Country Sun, many other California Avenue businesses have closed down after the pandemic, including Antonio’s Nut House, Chicago Pizza, Bank of the West, and branches like Subway, The Counter and Starbucks.

Kevin Wright, an employee who worked at Country Sun for the last two years, says that the pandemic has played a big role in the closing of these stores.

“It’s the pandemic,” Wright said. “Rent’s are going up, prices of items are going up, it’s a mix of a lot of different things.”

Amelia Hawkins, Country Sun customer and Stanford student, says that even though smaller businesses tend to be more expensive, it is important to support these businesses.

“I feel like it’s kinda sad that people are neglecting the stores that need their patronage the most in favor of what’s most convenient to them,”

“I feel like it’s kinda sad that people are neglecting the stores that need their patronage the most in favor of what’s most convenient to them,” Hawkins said. “Even though places like Country Sun are more expensive, part of it is that it’s a pillar of the community.”

Another Country Sun customer, Rebecca Glasberg, says that one possible factor that causes smaller grocery stores like Country Sun to close is due to the alternative of food delivery.

“I wonder about is the shift in pandemic to ordering groceries online and not going out and how that’s also played a role,” Glasberg said.