Farmers Choice, Neighbor of Trader Joe's, Shuts Down

Farmers Choice, a family-owned grocery store that claimed to have the best prices in Santa Monica, has closed its doors. The store, which was located directly south of , shut down May 29.

"We lost our lease and are moving on in life," the store said in a statement on its Facebook wall. "We will miss you all. Thank you for all the support you have shown us this year!"

The store opened in mid-May 2010 to much fanfare. Its offerings included fresh produce, vegan soups, specialty wraps, homemade sauces, organic juices, bread and sushi. Farmers Choice delivered fresh vegetables to  three times each week, and regular customers would often request made-to-order sandwiches for lunch.

[Go here to see a gallery of Farmers Choice photographs.]

"We don't have a menu, but we do have people come in and make requests," Debbie, the store's main cook, told Santa Monica Patch late last year. (She requested that her last name not be published.) "I make a mental list of people who come in."

"In time, we'll be able to afford another deli area, so people can see me make all the meals," she added.

Debbie, the sister of one of the store's clerks, created homemade guacamole, a veggie stew, tuna salad and shawarma sauce. 

"For all who would like to keep up with the cook Debbie, please friend Amaranth Leewolf, and I will keep you informed about where we are selling our products and how you can get them (salsas, guacamole, salads, dips, etc.)," the store said in its sign-off statement on Facebook.

"So bummed that farmers choice is no longer," fan Shellaine Corwel wrote on the store's Facebook wall. "I will miss the spicy vegetable rolls made specially for me. Good luck in future endeavors!"