Greentopia takes over for Anna's Health Foods

Greentopia is the new name of the health food store known for 22 years as “Anna’s.” The new name was chosen by new owners Henry and Susan Seo, who recently purchased the store at 401-403 Raritan Avenue.

The Seos, who live in south Edison, were the personal choice of previous owners Young and Anna Pak, who recently retired. The Paks “wanted a dependable person” to take over. Henry and Susan, who both immigrated from Korea in the 1990s, decided to go ahead with buying it even though they had never managed a store before.

Young and Anna recently returned from a two-month trip to Korea and are still eagerly helping the new owners.

Greentopia -- a combination of the words green and utopia, honoring the customers who are mostly environmentally conscious people -- sells all the products sold by the former Anna’s. Dietary supplements; organic and gluten free food; natural personal care products such as shampoos, soaps, and hair dyes; natural household care products are all available.

The store carries baby products such as diapers, lotions, and brushes, but does not sell baby food.

Their average customer is 35 years or older, Susan Seo says, with many being aged and/or having special food needs, such as a requirement for gluten free products. About 80% are borough residents, with the rest coming from Woodbridge, Princeton, East Brunswick, Edison, and Perth Amboy.

Most supplements and foods sold by Greentopia are also kosher. These include supplements produced by Blue Bonnet and food products by Arrowhead Mill, Bob’s Red Mill, and Amy’s Frozen Food.

Most popular are the fresh produce and the juice bar, which require constant preparation. Available fresh produce includes apples, organic yams, Yukon gold potatoes, and organic zucchini. Food and supplements are also popular, with food ranging from frozen chicken tenders and waffles to tofurkey, popular at Thanksgiving, to yogurt, to gluten-free and wheat-free breads.

Whole chickens, both organic and kosher, are available as well.

Greentopia offers a variety of cooking oils not available in a regular supermarket, such as walnut oil, sunflower oil, avocado oil, apricot kernel oil, almond oil, and more. There is also an array of alternative milk products: soy milk, rice milk, almond milk, and hazelnut milk, and fresh cow’s milk that is pasteurized but not homogenized.

Seo plans on changing the interior of the store to create an area suitable for an audience for his planned lecture series. So far, he has three people committed to lecturing on topics such as diabetes, blood pressure, and aromatherapy.

While the new owners admit organic food and products are more expensive than standard, Greentopia benefits from a built-in customer base who patronized Anna’s for many years.

Susan regularly seeks input from customers as to what they are looking for and has already added new products.

Greentopia is open 10 AM-7 PM Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays; 10 AM-6 PM Wednesdays, and 10 AM-4 PM Saturdays. The Seos are also considering opening on Sundays to better serve the town’s Jewish population, many of whom have requested Sunday hours.

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