Rebecca’s Natural Food

love their specialty items. very pricey so I don’t do the bulk of my shopping here, but they have some great finds that you can’t get else where.

This has got to be one of my favorite stores in Charlottesville, and I spend way too much money there. First off, every encounter I’ve had with the staff regarding vitamins/​supplements has been very helpful. Every staff member I’ve encountered has been friendly and helpful. They carry a lot of specialty products that I often have trouble getting elsewhere and I love how many options they have for different diets (paleo, vegan, etc). They cary most of my favorite brands, which is very convenient. I also really like that they have two brands of kombucha on tap, yum!

I purchased tea tree oil the other night at Rebecca’s and was very disappointed by the service. As I was walking up to the store, I saw the cashier texting on her cell phone, as soon I came into the store I smiled and said hello to her. Instead of greeting me back, she looked up from her cell phone and said,“we’re closing in a few minutes”, in an annoyed voice, then continued texting. I received no assistance and no one asked me if I needed any assistance. When I got to the register, after I looked for my merchandise on my own, Sophia, the cashier, decided to finally greet me. I really felt as if her greeting was an after thought. The lack of service made me feel so unwelcome. I told Sophia that I was offended and she apologized. I also let her know that normally when a customer walks into a store, she should greet the at the door, then ask them if they need help and then tell them that you’re closing. This is not the first time that I have went into Rebecca’s and felt ignored or unwanted. Several times I have walked in and have had to search for items on my own, Whenever I do find a staff member, their answers are reluctant to help and act as if I am bothering them. I managed to find the same exact product next door at Kroger for $ 3. less and with great customer service, I added this same comment to Rebecca’s facebook page and was told that management would be notified of my comment. However it has been a week since I and no reply from management, obviously they do not seem to care. I will not be buying anything from there again. Instead I will shop at Kroger or Whole foods for my essential oils.

Out of all the smaller health-​food stores trying to make it in Charlottesville, Rebecca’s is the only one you should be bothering with. They have a great variety of products, a nice bulk section, and they’re always bringing in new items you won’t find elsewhere. With their client card program you can save a ton on their various supplements, which is one of their fortes. Like any health-​food store, many of the items are not cheap, of course, but with their recent renovations (about two years ago), it looks great, the service is excellent and knowledgeable, and the selection is varied.

I am addicted to this store. I tend to like stores that are not huge and has less options. The simpler the better. It’s quite expensive but I do appreciate all the Paleo food they carry. I have bought quality neem oil and cream, tea tree oil, organol, etc. I prefer going to Rebecca’s than Whole Foods when it comes to healing oils, I guess it’s a tad cheaper and the layout is much simpler.
I just picked up Justin’s hazelnut spread, which is delicious and has waaay less sugar than Nutella. They sell paleo bread, quality ghee and delicious all-​natural snacks. My favorite is plantain chips.
Overall, their stuff is pricey but helps local community.

Rebecca’s has never really impressed me. They do have some items that can’t be found elsewhere in Charlottesville, but nothing extraordinary. I don’t usually have anything to say about Rebecca’s, negative or positive, but what has prompted me to write this review is my most recent visit. I went into Rebecca’s yesterday to do some price research on a particular product I purchase frequently, and also to browse some of their gluten free bread. To my horror, the product I was doing price research on was literally twice as expensive as what I usually pay. They were charging $ 60 dollars for something I pay $ 28 for elsewhere. This goes for almost everything in their store. The mark ups are obscene. I will never be going there again as it’s simply pointless. Why spend 2−3x as much for no reason? Frankly, I’m, surprised they’re still in business.

Before I hit my phase of appreciation for natural & organic products, I did venture into this store. What I found were some top of the line massage oils, as well as a slew of natural beauty products that I stocked up on. This store has a large selection of produce, natural supplements, cosmetics, grocery items and more. Rebecca also has an incredibly good website with all kinds of health-​related information.

5-​star review for perhaps being the only store in town to offer non-​ultra-​pasteurized milk. Pasteurized, organic milk is the only kind to buy (unless you want to shell out 2x+ the $ for raw). I’ve also heard they carry the famous Polyface farms chicken (featured in Omnivore’s Dilemma), but I forgot to look for it last time I was in the store.

Rebecca’s Natural Food store is the only independently owned and operated natural food store in Charlottesville. It’s location in Barrack’s Road Shopping Center is excellent for shoppers that go to several grocery stores to ensure that the products one supports with their food dollar are those that contribute to an equitable food system.
The store has a large bulk section with grains, nuts, dried fruit, tea and herbs. There is a smaller supply of fresh produce, local produce is available seasonally. They have the widest selection of eggs in town, supplying eggs from several local farms. In addition they have a decent selection of meats and frozen food. The front of the store is filled with wonderful healthcare items; i.e. soaps, vitamins, tonics.