What Is Erewhon Market? All About Los Angeles’s Celebrity‑Loved Organic Supermarket

Erewhon: The Hugely Popular High-Quality Supermarket in Los Angeles

Hamburgers, pizza, mac and cheese, donuts – American food tends to have a somewhat oily image, doesn’t it…

However, in Los Angeles in recent years, organic foods can be found in supermarkets, and restaurants with menus for health-conscious people are increasing year by year.

This time, we’ll introduce the charm and history of Erewhon, a hugely popular supermarket in Los Angeles that handles high-quality foods for health-conscious people!

1. What is Erewhon?

Erewhon is a high-quality natural foods supermarket based in Los Angeles, California, offering local vegetables, fresh meats, organic products, and smoothies.

They display in their stores “..(excerpt)..WE’RE MORE THAN A GROCERY STORE. WE’RE A COMMUNITY..(excerpt)..”

They say that by providing safe and secure foods that protect our bodies and the planet, they focus on improving community health rather than just being a supermarket!

One of their popular products is the deli (prepared foods, soups, salads, bread, rice, etc.), which offers many varieties that are all very healthy and delicious.

Since restaurants in America are often expensive, one of the attractions is being able to eat high-quality, delicious food at prices cheaper than restaurants!

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2. The Origin of the Name “Erewhon”

The name Erewhon comes from the 1872 satirical novel “Erewhon” by British author Samuel Butler, which was the founder’s favorite book.

This was a utopian novel that satirized Victorian society of the time through the fictional country “Erewhon.”

The title Erewhon is an anagram of the word “Nowhere,” suggesting that even in the fictional country Erewhon, which appears to be a utopia on the surface, the reality is full of absurdities and the ideal place exists nowhere!

It’s a creative name that gives a slightly different impression from other supermarket names!

3. Were the Founders Japanese?

The founders of Erewhon are Japanese Michio Kushi and his wife Aveline Kushi, known as advocates of macrobiotics*.

*Macrobiotics is a health theory advocated by Mr. Kushi, a diet centered on brown rice, vegetables, seaweed, and legumes, recommending avoiding refined sugar, meat, and dairy products as much as possible.

In the 1960s, when health foods were not yet in the spotlight, they translated the Japanese word “shizen-shoku” to “Natural Food” in English and opened the natural foods store “Erewhon” in NY along with macrobiotic education.

Later, their achievements in the natural food movement were honored, and in 1999, their materials on macrobiotics and alternative medicine were preserved at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington DC.

4. From Founding Through Bankruptcy and Acquisition to Current Explosive Popularity

“Erewhon” was founded in NY in the 1960s and also expanded stores to LA, but the NY store went bankrupt in 1981.

The LA store, which had been spun off, was able to continue as a local grocery store after employees acquired ownership before the bankruptcy.

The turning point came in 2011, when Josephine Antoci and Tony Antoci, a couple who had already made their fortune in the food distribution world, acquired Erewhon’s LA store and transformed it into a natural foods supermarket with multiple locations centered in Los Angeles.

The Antoci couple succeeded in creating a supermarket that thoroughly improved product quality and store luxury, providing a premium shopping experience specializing in organic foods.

“Erewhon” gained support from health-conscious people and celebrities, quickly achieving explosive popularity.

5. Where Are the Stores Located?

Currently, Erewhon operates 10 stores in California.

Centered in Los Angeles, they have stores in major areas including Venice, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, and Beverly Hills.

Stores located in Los Angeles’s upscale residential areas are particularly popular with health-conscious wealthy customers.

Furthermore, they recently opened a new store in Pasadena, and the Pasadena store’s limited edition bags have become popular on social media, increasing their influence.

Here’s a post about the Venice store! Please check it out!

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The Beverly Hills store and smoothies appear at the end of this one!

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6. Private Brand Products Are Also Popular

Erewhon’s private brand products sold in-store are also very popular.

These products are made using organic ingredients carefully selected by Erewhon, manufactured in cooperation with reliable suppliers!

They also focus on environmentally conscious business practices, not just food quality.

Bottles and containers containing private brand soups, snacks, juices, etc., can be returned to the store for a $2-$3 deposit refund!

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7. Popular Smoothies and Store Interior

Every section of Erewhon stores has a very stylish design, and juice bars where you can drink smoothies are also installed.

These juice bars offer smoothies and coffee made with fresh organic ingredients.

Among them, smoothies* created in collaboration with popular figures like Hailey Bieber and Katy Perry are particularly famous, attracting much attention on American social media.

*Hailey Bieber’s Strawberry Glaze Skin Smoothie, Katy Perry’s Orange You Glad I Love You

Drinks containing collagen, protein, and stress-reducing ingredients called adaptogens are also popular.

Here’s a post from the Studio City store! You can see the stylish store interior and a glimpse of the smoothies!

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8. In Conclusion

Erewhon, the hugely popular high-quality supermarket in Los Angeles!

The experience of enjoying carefully selected delicious and healthy food provides a good opportunity to reconsider your physical and mental health!

When you’re sightseeing and pass by one of their stores, please stop by!

We also introduce recommended tourist spots on Instagram! Please take a look!

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