Photo: Chantelle Deacon

Shelley Hawn, holding a photo of herself at 25-years-old when she opened her first business.

On Sunday evening, Whole Foods Market in Penticton shut its doors for good.

Whole Foods Market, which has been bought by Nature's Fare, is a local organic health food store. The market, that isn't affiliated with the American chain Whole Foods Market, has impacted the health food residents of the community. 

"Over the years I’ve had people say they chose to move to Penticton because of the big natural foods store for such a small town," owner, Shelley Hawn said. 

Hawn started in the food industry when she was 25-years-old. 

"I've been in business since 1981," she said. "I opened my first store in Summerland and then, two years later, I opened a 100 per cent bulk foods store in Penticton and I was successful from the 'get-go' with both stores." 

Hawn and husband, Richard Hunt, felt it was time to retire and feel the store will continue to be successful under its new ownership. 

"I actually feel pretty good," she said. "It will mean that there will be a really good natural foods store in Penticton, they will be equally as successful." 

Even though the pair are happy to retire, they are emotional to let go of their local company. 

"I am sad to be selling this business because it won’t be as homegrown as it has been for all these years," she said.

The store will reopen in approximately one week as Nature's Fare, according to Hawn.