Erewhon Market

In 1966, the natural foods movement was in its infancy. Aveline and Michio Kushi, pioneers of the macrobiotic diet in the U.S., saw a need and opened a small 200-square-foot stall in Boston. They named it Erewhon, after a satirical 1872 novel about a utopia where people are responsible for their own health. It was one of the first natural food stores in the country, starting with items like organic brown rice and soy sauce before moving to Los Angeles in 1969. For decades, Erewhon remained a niche LA institution. The story took a sharp turn in 2011. After selling their food distribution business, Tony and Josephine Antoci were looking for a new venture. They acquired what was then a single, struggling Erewhon location. The Antocis didn't just buy a store; they rebooted the entire concept. Tony handled business operations while Josephine focused on curating the product selection, transforming the market into a bright, upscale grocery experience. A pivotal moment arrived in 2019 when the private equity firm Stripes Group purchased a significant minority stake. This investment fueled an expansion from a single store to a multi-location Southern California phenomenon, with plans for further growth. Today, Erewhon is more than a grocery store; it’s a high-end brand known for its strict organic standards, celebrity clientele, and viral smoothies, cementing its status as a cultural icon in the wellness world.