Community News 5
Ponte Vedra Recorder · September 10, 2015
Native Sun expands to Jacksonville Beach
Doors open Sept. 19
at 3rd Street location
Jacksonville Beach is about to “go
native” with help from a local natural
foods market chain. Native Sun, an allorganic natural foods store, opens its
third location this month in Jacksonville
Beach at 1585 3rd St., N. Long-time locals will recognize the spot as a former
Blockbuster Video location—but the
new building is completely unrecognizable after a top-to-bottom remodel.
The Saturday grand opening event
will begin at 10 a.m. and will offer $50
of free groceries to the first 250 customers in addition to sampling, representatives from local farms and product
providers and other in-store events.
The new store has brought 50 jobs to
the Beaches. Just like other locations on
Baymeadows Rd. and San Jose Blvd.,
the Third St. location will offer familyfriendly events year-round.
Native Sun was founded by Jacksonville native Aaron Gottlieb in 1996—and
Gottlieb remains very hands-on at all
locations. Gottlieb said that the expansion into Jacksonville Beach was a
natural for the company.
“The grocery business is a neighborhood business,” Gottlieb said. “We were
glad to come to Jacksonville before it
had natural foods—but the Beaches
have always been a goal. The Beach
has just been calling. I’ve been looking
and looking.”
Gottlieb said that in planning the
new location, they went to customers
for feedback on what Native Sun could
improve.
“We’ve learned as we expanded our
food service at the Baymeadows location that people wanted more natural
foods solutions to quick meals,” Gottlieb said. “We have a whole different
footprint at the beach. Our deli is actually a section of the store with a seating
area and registers built into the area. It’s
two-sided—one side is self-serve and
one side is full serve. Now is it more of
a food destination to sit down and eat.”
When the first store opened in 1996,
Native Sun was the only option for
shoppers who wanted to purchase
organic groceries. Now that many chain
supermarkets offer organic options,
Gottlieb says that Native Sun customers
return because of the high standards
and responsiveness offered by the grocery store.
“We offer only organic produce,
grass-fed beef, and dairy products free
of synthetic growth hormones and
antibiotics not because we hope to
capitalize on their current popularity,
but because we consider these items
essential to a healthy lifestyle.”
After its grand opening, Native Sun in
Jacksonville Beach will be open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.,
and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information, visit www.
nativesunjax.com.
— Kelly H. McDermott
COMMUNITY BRIEFS
National Library Card Sign-Up Month
September is National Library Card
Sign-Up Month and the St. Johns
County Public Library System is joining
the American Library Association and
libraries nationwide in celebrating and
promoting the educational benefits of
libraries.
Each SJCPLS branch will host various events and activities for people of
all ages throughout the month of September, all of which will be free with a
library card.
For a list of events or information on
how to sign up for a library card, visit
any St. Johns County Library branch,
SJCPLS social media pages, or www.
sjcpls.org.
Jacksonville Symphony offers discount
to SJC Public Library Card holders
In support of National Library Card
Sign-Up Month in September, the
Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra is offering St. Johns County Public Library
System card holders a 50 percent discount to all matinee performances for
Photo provided by Native Sun
Native Sun was founded by Jacksonville native Aaron Gottlieb in 1996. The expansion into Jacksonville Beach is a goal realized for Gottlieb. “I have had a deep commitment and yearning to be a
part of [the Beaches] community,” he said.
SHORT TAKE
the 2015-16 season.
Current and new card holders can
obtain the discount code beginning by
visiting the Ponte Vedra Beach Branch
Library, 101 Library Blvd., or by calling
(904) 827-6950.
Free Hastings football clinics
St. Johns County is offering free
instructional football clinics in Hastings
to teach fundamentals of the sport,
including basic skills, sportsmanship,
and team building.
Clinics will be held from 10 a.m.11:30 a.m. every Saturday from Sept.
12 through Oct. 17 at Al Wilke Park,
6150 S. Main St. in Hastings. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. each Saturday,
and physicals are not required to sign
up. The clinics are open to youth
between the ages of 4 and 15, and a
parent or guardian must be present to
register their child. Each participant
is asked to wear comfortable athletic
wear and tennis shoes. For additional
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