Debra’s Natural Gourmet Opens Groundbreaking Space “Next Door”

For more than 30 years, Debra Stark tirelessly led her community towards a healthier lifestyle by making organic and healthy foods available at her “Natural Gourmet” store – first opened in 1989 at a time when most people thought of health food as “tofu and twigs.” Debra’s charm, persistence, and genuine belief in what she was trying to achieve eventually overcame the naysayers, and the shop soon became a thriving cornerstone for the West Concord community and beyond.

World class speakers gave talks in the crammed aisle of the store on topics ranging fair-trade foods, to how food choice impacts climate changes, to integrating herbs and supplements to optimize health. A television show, speakers circuit, and even a recent book (The Little Shop that Could) spread the word far and wide of Debra’s mission to encourage people to “Eat Well, Be Happy.”

In 30+ years, Debra’s Natural Gourmet transformed the concept of ‘healthy eating’ from one of focusing on what you can’t eat to a veritable celebration of all the beautiful, colorful, interesting foods you can eat and are so good for you. And what a difference that has made for so many! In 2016, Debra’s Natural Gourmet was named Retailer of the Year by Whole Foods Magazine (a trade journal with no relation to the grocery chain). Health food stores across the country looked to Debra for guidance in growing their own businesses. And community members across Concord and beyond came to depend on the Natural Gourmet’s constant offering of new, interesting, and healthy products.

Adam Stark carries on the business founded by his mother, Debra.

| Courtesy of Debra’s Natural Gourmet

As 2022 began, Debra was in the final stages of realizing a new chapter for her dream – opening “Debra’s Next Door.” She was just weeks away from her goal when she passed quite suddenly – leaving the community in shock and grief. No one more so than her son and business partner, Adam.

But Adam is moving the family vision forward, together with his team of highly talented colleagues. In early June, Debra’s Next Door finally opened - transforming the way people shop and eat once again.

“My mom’s final victory was a major step forward in reducing waste, eliminating single use plastics, and reducing our collective impact on the planet,” said Adam Stark. Massachusetts’ food code does not normally allow reusable containers to be used for bulk purchases — but Debra did an amazing job of convincing the Town of Concord of the importance of granting a variance. Now — because of her passion and unwavering dedication — people can bring in their (clean) mason jars, jugs, old honey jars, or really almost any other containers to purchase bulk products in the new space. Debra’s Natural Gourmet is the first store in the entire state of Massachusetts to be granted this type of variance - and it goes a long way towards reducing single use plastics and making a big impact on our planet.

Debra’s Natural Gourmet will continue to offer some 10,000 products. And Debra’s Next Door will feature close to 500 items in bulk – everything from wild picked pecans, to fairly-trade coffees, to shampoo, and even toilet paper. Fans of Debra’s kitchen will be able to access a wider variety of healthy and delicious prepared foods. And the catering kitchen is newly equipped to offer healthy delights to event and party planners, while taking huge strides towards a zero-waste goal.

“We are all still left with a hole in our hearts where Debra’s smile, passion, and caring for her community always was,” said Adam. “But her dream is alive and well in Debra’s Next Door. We invite everyone to celebrate her spirit and her vision with us. We need our community to come out and support the new store. So grab your jugs, jars, or other clean container (or we can provide a bag for you), head over to Debra’s Next Door, and discover a whole new way to ‘Eat Well, Be Happy’ – we look forward to seeing you soon!”