Independent grocer Foods for Living to close after 27 years in East Lansing

EAST LANSING — Independent grocery store Foods for Living will permanently close its doors this summer, just as the Lansing area's first Trader Joe's location is being constructed nearby.

A store manager reached by phone at the store on Tuesday afternoon confirmed the business will close in late June. He declined to give his name or comment further.

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John and Wilma Snyder opened the store, at 2655 E. Grand River Ave., in 1997, according to the store's website.

When it opened "a few islands of produce, a smattering of supplements, and John’s charm were the main offerings," according to the website. "But East Lansing was clear about what it had been missing, grocery-wise. Business was too good for the tiny space the couple were renting, and they had to think big, and quickly."

Today, Foods for Living offers organic produce, a deli with sandwiches, baked goods, vegetarian and vegan items and "a huge selection of boutique soaps, lotions, makeup, and essential oils," according to its website.

The store withstood competition from Whole Foods, which opened nearby in 2016. The Lansing area's first Trader Joe's store is expected to open nearby later this year.

Contact Reporter Rachel Greco at rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on X @GrecoatLSJ .

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Independent grocer Foods for Living to close after 27 years in East Lansing