Been missing your New Leaf Community Market in downtown Santa Cruz? Good news! New Leaf will open its newest storefront in Santa Cruz next week, marking a return to downtown Santa Cruz after less than a year.
Inside the Gateway Plaza shopping center on River Street just off Highway 1, the conveniently located market will feature a wealth of great offerings such as an expanded coffee and juice menu, more ready-to-eat items, an enhanced wellness section, and additional products by local vendors.
The fresh look of the store begins with the wood-surrounded entrance and extends throughout its aisles, with light and bright color schemes providing an energized ambiance. At 29,000 square feet, the new store is more than double the size of the previous downtown location, which was 11,000 square feet.
This will allow more space to offer the grab-and-go items that customers have been asking for, with everything from ready-cut produce to hot food items for takeout, according to Lindsay Gizdich, brand manager for New Leaf.
“We are excited to bring back a full-service meat and seafood case as well as more ready-to-enjoy options for customers, more fresh juices in reusable glass bottles, a fresh DIY poke bar and more,” says Gizdich.
The new store opening comes just before the company celebrates its 40th anniversary this October. Customers will be able to view special in-store promotions celebrating the positive impact of four decades of responsible business, sourcing locally and donating directly to more than 300 local nonprofits each year.
The community is invited to a grand opening celebration on Saturday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at New Leaf River Street, featuring free samples, games, giveaways and chances to win a $250 New Leaf gift card. Customers can take home locally printed New Leaf reusable tote bags while supplies last, and enjoy interactive stations for adults and kids with local businesses like Lakeside Organic Gardens and S. Martinelli & Co. There will also be an in-store scavenger hunt for kids, with prizes upon completion.
New Leaf’s famous housemade grab-and-go juices and smoothies will be served in the customary glass bottles, which can be returned to the store to be washed, sanitized, and used again. As a thank-you for lessening the environmental impact of enjoying healthy drinks on the go, New Leaf offers a 50-cent redemption for each returned bottle.
Customers can expect to see many of the employees who worked at the downtown store and other New Leaf locations, who are now working hard to prepare for the grand opening. “I am excited to lead my team during New Leaf’s return to the heart of Santa Cruz,” says store director Waleed Alsheshani. “After raising my family in the area and living downtown for eight of those years, I am looking forward to deepening our commitments in this community.
“Many River Street staff came from working at the stores on Pacific Avenue or the Westside, so customers can expect to see a lot of familiar faces. We have some staff in this store who have been with the company for more than 20 years.”
To celebrate the newest store, New Leaf is partnering with local Certified California Sustainable Winery Bargetto to introduce a new red blend collaboration called Lighthouse. Available just at the new River Street store for a short time, the limited release is a medium, full-bodied blend of Merlot, Dolcetto, and Malbec.
“The location of this store allows us to serve new communities, like Scotts Valley, and it’s just a short distance from our headquarters office on Pacific Avenue,” says Forrest Gonsiewski, Group Vice President of New Leaf Community Markets. “It’s been part of our mission for 40 years to increase access to nourishing natural foods, and we look forward to sharing this store with the community.”
With an ongoing focus on nourishing and sustaining the community, the new store will also include:
• Hot and cold food bars in the Food Service Department, including nutritious housemade dishes, vegan and vegetarian offerings, and fresh organic ingredients
• An expanded made-to-order coffee and juice menu with long-time favorites like Sam’s Fire Water and fresh roasted drip coffee
• Additional offerings for The Cookie, with original and milk chocolate options plus the new peanut butter flavor, currently only available in Capitola
• Responsibly sourced meat and seafood departments with plenty of ready-to-cook options
• More products by local vendors throughout the store
• Organic seasonal fruits and veggies with freshly cut grab-and-go items in the Produce department
• Bulk food bins from local companies like SunRidge Farms
• Curated local craft beer and wines from Paso Robles and Santa Cruz Mountains, with a broad selection of hard liquor and spirits
• A larger Wellness section featuring conscious beauty products, a wide variety of locally made supplements, and natural health remedies
• Self-checkout stations and fully staffed registers to allow for the experience each customer prefers.
In line with New Leaf’s commitment to community programs supporting education, environmental, and hunger relief efforts, current beneficiaries of New Leaf’s Envirotoken reusable bag program in Santa Cruz will remain in place through spring 2026. These local non-profit powerhouses include Coastal Watershed Council, Friends of Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation, Homeless Garden Project, Housing Matters, Life Lab, and Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center.
New Leaf River Street, at 650 River Street, offers ample parking and will offer pickup and delivery service on shop.newleaf.com as well as on New Leaf’s app, and third-party platforms Instacart and DoorDash in the coming weeks. The store will be open daily 7 a.m.-9 p.m. For additional information, visit newleaf.com.
About the author
Kathryn McKenzie, who grew up in Santa Cruz and now lives on a Christmas tree farm in north Monterey County, writes about the environment, sustainable living and health for numerous publications and websites. She is the co-author of “Humbled: How California’s Monterey Bay Escaped Industrial Ruin.”
