Natural Grocers

Sadly not a huge fan. Wasn’t a large produce selection. Pricier organic produce than other stores.
I’m sure it’s great for vitamins, dry goods etc
No fresh fish, only frozen packaged
I did like the packaged herbs, nuts.
I don’t think I’ll go back. I don’t like having to go to multiple grocery stores for dinner.
3 stars to support the smaller grocer

When diarrhea attacks your dog, you’ve got to act fast because coming home to a room full of wet, wafting turds gets old very quickly. Enter Natural Grocers.
After finally narrowing down our dogs issue to the food he was eating, we researched some good substitutes, many of which were carried here. His issues were cleared up promptly with the new dog food and I’ve started coming here for other things occasionally in addition to dog food including dried fruit, and vanilla beans for homemade ice cream, which are shockingly cheap here compared to anywhere else I’ve seen and they are fairly substantial and juicy with lots of moist vanilla goodness. $ 2.50 for 3 vanilla beans and a dog who no longer has a brown water super soaker ah-​nooose. Giggidy giggidy goo!

A very good natural grocery store for the area, and it usually feels a little bit cheaper than Sprouts and way cheaper than Whole Foods. Really good produce selection for a small store, really excellent dry spices and tea. And Its not nearly as busy as any of above mentioned, never have run someone over or fight to get into a section. Nice and courteous staff. I always come back here.

My favorite grocery store! Employees are always helpful, organic produce is cheaper than HEB, and it is never as crowded as Whole Foods. Only wish they had a bigger bread selection.

Top notch, they really go out of their way to give extraordinary service and accurate info.
Been shopping at this and other locations for 3 years and not planning on leaving them.

This place is definitely an oasis away from the hype of health food stores. They have exactly what you need without all the frills that get you in trouble with the wallet. I love that all their fruits and veggies are all organic. I don’t want conventional, so don’t get me excited to see an item to only find out it’s not organic. They never tease me like the other stores. It’s easy to find parking, everyone is friendly, lots of vitamins and an Austin Chronicle on the way out. I mean, really, the best kept secret in North Austin. And then of course there’s Spec’s right next door for a bottle of wine. Kudos!!!

All of the employees are freindly and helpful at this location. We shop there regularly and they have a great selection of products at reasonable prices. This is also a great place to shop for glutein free items if you are so inclined.

I have experienced better. This particular location’s manager gives off an unapproachable vibe. I have walked into the store and she will look at me then look away. I have also walked by her in the aisles only to have her completely ignore me. Once, I was looking for something I couldn’t find and she just kept on stocking.
I do not like being at Natural Grocers when it is busy and I suggest you avoid it during «busy» hours, which aren’t set obviously, but any time I have been there ready to check out and a rush creeps up, I have been screwed over. Without fail, I get stuck in line only to have an inconsiderate cashier assist customers in the back of the line who had barely stepped into line. They don’t seem to even think twice about it!
There is also a note about using debit to keep prices low. I have yet to see their prices any lower than anywhere else. Whole Foods even has them beat on a few prices. I guess when things go on sale, but other stores put merchandise on sale too, so I am not seeing the value.
Oh yes and be careful crossing the street back into the parking lot. For some reason, they are lacking a speed bump in front of their store in an extremely busy shopping center where speed bumps are all over the place in front of the other shops.

small, intimate, fresh. this is a limited space but its full with carefully picked items. cashiers are pretty nice, no pressure and no feelings of overwhelming choices like in larger stores.

The natural groceries our go to place for frozen meats supplements, vitamins and prepared foods.

Ok, so. its been a while since I last reviewed this store, this location, I mean. and I feel like with the change of staff and manager as well, it was time to do it all over! So here we go!
First of all, I have heard (not on Unilocal,but within and around the store) about the moderately high overturn here… and I have to say this…
What goes on behind closed doors, if it doesn’t impact you, should be left there. Im just saying.
Regardless of all the many changes in staff over the past 2 years, there have been some of the NICEST, GREATEST people working in that store. No matter how badly the situation was, those faces were ALWAYS smiling, they were ALWAYS courteous, ALWAYS helpful, and ALWAYS brightened people’s day. I know I saw it.
I am very much a regular at this store, especially particular location, and I’ve seen great things that come from them all. The current Manager, Shelly, is so absolutely wonderful. She is helpful, kind, compassionate, caring, respectful… and I simply love her. I’ve watched her take the time to help me and all the explaining (my goodness, she is SO KNOWLEDGEABLE about everything in that store), and I’ve seen her help others, just the same. Anyhow, I honestly could never say enough about her.
The other staff, dear… they are so very much alike, helpful, caring, compassionate, respectful, funny, down to earth. all around GREAT people. It is always a FUN experience to run in here for anything I need. no matter if it’s a 5 minute trip, or a an hour and 5 minute trip. The loner I stay, the better the visit. :) My kids love them all equally, and I can tell they, in turn, are so accepting of those little boogers… even when they aren’t on their best behavior… (sorry)
I do miss the other staff members, Miss Kalitra, Kodiak, Omar, and others, but definitely not upset with who is here now. Its a really great team/​group.
Now, for today. Wheew, I finally made it to today.
Man, I need something sweet, halfway healthy. ya know? So NG here I come. grabbed a Mint chocolate Rice Dream, man those things are delicious! Anyhow.
They have everything you could possibly need, I mean, I shop at other stores, but I DONT HAVE to. Their prices, as I said before, are MUCH LOWER for the EXACT SAME PRODUCT as «whole Paycheck Foods» and the store is not near as crowded. I mean. how could it honestly get any better than that?
I have literally priced compared. to the penny. and there are so many items, NG sells for 20%-60% less than WF, Sprouts, HEB… Yes, they are less expensive than HEB. give’m a whirl. why dont’cha?!
So as Im checking out, Im apologizing for so very rude behavior (I didnt realize I had a meeting at 2, and I had to call in, and well, it would not look good if they heard the music in the background, which forced me to put my phone on speaker to avoid accidentally hanging up, or unmuting myself, which I have so often done before in the past)…and even that was dismissed as to not worry.
Tori, the super sweet cashier, was just as nice as ever, and when she found out I was Unilocaling. she was even MORE EXCITED! Gotta love it! Snapped her pic, and away I went!
Ill see ya’ll again tomorrow, or Friday. Much love the NG Team! Always! And THANK YOU. my family truly appreciates each of you.

The short and sweet:
Pros it’s the perfect quiet little grocery store for people who like fresh herbs, organic vegetables, and supplements that cater to people who don’t like a lot of fillers. they carry a lot of whole food body stuff is well.
cons: they dont have more locations
Love letter to natural grocers:
Grocery shopping can sometimes be a unpleasant experience but not at natural grocers. I actually can’t think of one time where someone didn’t help me when I needed it and even when i didnt realize i needed it! no one is ever too busy, and i have yet to see someones kids running around the store screaming and knocking things over. *HEB And I believe that’s one of the pros of shopping here it’s more of a personal experience because it’s a smaller grocery store. They have plenty of staff to help you, they have even more options and if they don’t have what you’re looking for they special order it and call you when it comes in. plus you don’t have to deal with the douche bag attitude and unholy markup of wholefoods. the end: D

Great store! It’s a perfect alternative to shopping at Whole Foods or Sprouts. While the selection of products is not as big a the other mentioned stores, I think the price more than makes up for it! It’s definitely the place to go for supplements! I’m so happy I’ve finally tried this place out!

AH, who am I kidding? I love Natural Grocers so much I had to come back to give it 5 stars, even if they dont have the best selection for cat food or makeup.
Their prices are usually WAY below Whole Foods and most of the time their products are cheaper than my local HEB, and sometimes even Amazon!

I“m so glad I live closer to this location! It beats driving 20 minutes to the one in Cedar Park from where I used to live, and this one is BETTER! I think I gave the other one four stars based off of the products, but this one is a flying five stars for it’s great produce and customer service. Every time I come here the staff is positive and helpful.
The store is well-​organized and they carry the best tasting milk I have ever had in my life! Organic, grass-​fed, non-​homogenized (cream top), low pasteurized delicious milk! It’s just a notch below its raw counterpart, but way more accessible. The produce prices are pretty good for being all organic, and they have quite the assortment of greens, but the fruit tends to be lacking in variety. They offer frozen meats, but I tend to shop here for produce and milk/​butter and supplements. I used to be excited about living closer to the Gateway Whole Foods, but I barely even go there now. This place is way lower on the stress scale in the realm of shopping experience, which is a huge plus. I almost recommend shopping here for the environment alone.

Natural Grocers provides all the quirks, hippy vibe, and convenience you need out of a grocery store. Perhaps extended hours would be nice, and maybe a bit more variety of produce could satisfy more customers.
Fortunately, this store provides all of your essentials, at extremely affordable prices, no less. Perhaps the simplicity and no-​frills atmosphere gives way to the very empty store. Almost every time I have been, not a soul was in the line.
Sales last for quite some time, and when things are on sale, boy, are they on sale! Chips end up 50% off, and various snacks necessitate that you buy in mass quantities, simply to help them clear inventory… also to stock up on extremely affordable healthy offerings.
Be aware that Natural Grocers is no Whole Foods or Central Market, but this differing does automatically give way to automatic rejection. Some folks look past the gourmet grocery shops and look to the more «average Joe’s» underdogs.

Here’s why I love Natural Grocers (NG):
1. Quirky little hippy-​dippy kind of place staffed by crunchy granola types. This is unexpected in the franchise-​filled strip center from Hades otherwise known as Arbor Walk. NG is a national chain store, but it feels very Austin-​y.
2. Never crowded, so very easy to comfortably peruse the bright, clean aisles at your leisure (so unlike their competitor WF further down Capital of Texas highway).
3. Helpful employees who acknowledge you as soon as you enter the store. If you need assistance finding something, it won’t take long before you’ll be directed to the right part of the store. If you already know what you want and where it is, just say, «No, thanks!» when they ask if you need help; you won’t be bothered again.
4. HUMONGOUS selection of supplements and natural medicines, as well as green toiletries and cosmetics. This is my go-​to store for most supplements, as I can get in & out in less than 10 minutes (if I don’t do other browsing) which is about 3 times faster than the best checkout time at WF.
5. Fantastic prices on organic produce and natural meats. One should be prepared that the selection is pretty limited compared to WF or CM (What? There aren’t 14 varieties of potatoes? Hmph, well I never!), but if you shop for in-​season basics, you’ll be impressed with the price point.
6. Informative monthly newsletter /​sale sheet, Health Hotline, with not only special price info but also recipes, health /​nutrition articles, and even interesting quotes. Something very quaint & nostalgic about this kind of communication in 2013, even if it does come via email.
7. Bag-​free before it was cool (and the law in Austin).
8. Very nice array of g-​free and vegan pre-​packaged foods. I once stopped in for some Bisquick-​y type of baking mix and was surprised to learn how many varieties of gluten-​free baking goods were available (way more than the regular wheat kind). As part of their natural health focus, NG was promoting anti-​allergy /​anti-​toxin diets before it became the big deal it is today, and they know their stuff.
9. You can shop online for dry bulk food products (grains, nuts, teas, herbs, beans, snacks, pasta, etc) for a flat $ 5 shipping fee under 25 pounds and anything over that ships free.
A new, bigger WF is being built just up Mopac, and I wonder whether NG will be able to make it after that new WF opens. I sure hope they do, as it’s nice to have a smaller alternative to WF/​CM on the north side.

I love shopping here!
Bag free shopping in a store that vows to never carry GMO products and only stock organic produce. Plus, they are rarely crowded and have dark chocolate at reasonable prices! They have good sales and prices on most of the things I typically buy.
I do wish it was in a different shopping center… the Arbor Walk is sometimes challenging to get out of.

If you go in expecting a Whole Foods or Central Market type store you’ll be disappointed. If you’re interested in cheap-​ish organic and natural foods without the frills, this is the place. Not everything is cheaper but there’s some great deals. Today I noticed that the same tubs of miso that are $ 8 at Whole Foods are $ 4 here. There is also a wide selection of cheap hummus.
P. S. look for the sale items in the dairy section– they are things expiring in the next week at about half price!

I avoided this store when it opened because I figured it was just another lame supplement shop with few food items. Boy, was I wrong.
Natural Grocers has a lot of great features. It’s clean, well-​organized, and the staff is friendly. In fact, walking in the door at noon on a Sunday was actually a peaceful experience — something I could never comprehend saying about Whole Foods. There were maybe 4 customers in the entire store!
I couldn’t believe the reasonable prices (beautiful organic peaches for $ 1.29/lb which I rarely even find at WF, organic gala apples for .99/​lb!), and they also stocked most of the frozen and packaged things I normally buy. There’s an entire freezer just for Amy’s products! The refrigerated flour section is impressive and I thought they had a nice selection of quality yogurt. About ¹⁄₃ of the store alone is allocated to vitamins/​health supplements so it’s nice to know they have that available.
They carry many gluten-​free products if that’s your thing. I did find the bread selection a bit limited, but this is not a store full of bakers and fishmongers catering to your every request. It’s a basic, organic/​natural foods grocery and vitamin store, and for that it deserves its 5 stars. I also like the fact that they make you bring your own bags.
EDIT: Reducing it to 4 stars because the produce, while all organic, is at times of questionable age. Also I wish they carried at least some beer and wine.