Since Harvest Natural Market opened on Gosling Road in March, the second grocery store nationwide—the other is in Katy—the store has seen a steady flow of traffic.

Owner Deenita Chapman said the location was chosen because the area lacked stores like Harvest Natural Market. The store sells conventional items, such as popular brand name snacks, but it also sells specialty items like fresh macarons and housemade bread.

“We’re a healthy grocery store and also conventional, so it’s a little bit of both,” she said.

In its Harvest Food Court, customers can choose everything from vegan items to freshly shaved gyros. Harvest Market also sells a line of grass-fed meats from its own Harvest Ranch, located in Richmond.

One of the main draws of Harvest Natural Market is its wide variety of fruits and vegetables.[/caption]

Chapman said customers can ask the on-site butcher to cut meats to their specifications. If customers want to save cooking time, the chef can also cook the meats.

“They season it very well here,” she said. “It’s the same with seafood. Customers can take it home and eat it versus cooking it themselves.”

The gelato bar features traditional favorites as well as unique flavors, such as avocado gelato.[/caption]

To add to the convenience, the store offers side dishes to choose from, such as baked potatoes.

In addition to food items, Harvest Natural Market also sells Saflon Metal pans, craft soap and supplements. By June, the store will offer a pharmacy and wine and beer selections.

“We want to be the local neighborhood store where everybody starts learning the names of the people that come in, like it used to be in the old towns you used to go to,” Chapman said. “Everybody is friendly—that is our whole concept.”