North DSM News

Simply Nourished, a locally-owned organic, specialty and local food grocery store in Clear Lake has widened its reach by moving to a location on Main Street. 

According to Globe Gazette, Simply Nourished serves the local economy by providing its customers with healthy alternatives at affordable prices.

Simply Nourished was formally located in a quiet neighborhood on Third Street surrounded by law offices, hair salons and residential neighborhoods. The new one-story Main Street location provides proximity to other retailers and greater access to downtown foot traffic.

Ashley Coleman, owner of Simply Nourished, started the business with her husband six years ago after a personal experience proved it difficult to find products and groceries for their son with food allergies, often having to travel outside of North Iowa to Minneapolis or Des Moines or have food shipped from states away. Opening Simply Nourished provided a solution for her family and others with similar situations. Simply Nourished also provides an outlet for local producers to sell their products in rural Iowa.

"The store has grown in inventory and staff four times what it was since it opened," Coleman said. "The store sees between 60 and 70 first-time customers each month. I anticipate that will continue to grow in the next five years as the objective to eat better and to know what’s in your food and especially to know where your food is coming from grows."

She said Simply Nourished, which employs seven people, provides each first-time customer a one-on-one tour, including information about the products.

Simply Nourished is now located at 419 Main Avenue. The Main Street location offers seating for about 32 people and the continued sale of grab-and-go and dine-in meals. The store's summer hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.