After 33 years of championing sustainable retail in Edmonton, Earth’s General Store has officially closed its doors. The store, a key fixture on Whyte Avenue since 1991, was known for its wide range of eco-friendly products, including bulk refillables, organic foods, fair trade goods, and reusable containers.
Despite a strong community presence and efforts to save it through crowdfunding, the store announced its closure in late September.
Founded by environmental advocate Michael Kalmanovitch, Earth’s General Store was more than just a retail outlet—it was a hub for eco-conscious living. Kalmanovitch opened the shop at a time when terms like “zero waste” and “fair trade” were still novel concepts in Edmonton.
Over the years, Earth’s General Store built a loyal customer base among the city’s environmentally conscious shoppers, offering products that aligned with sustainable values and reducing plastic waste.
In 2010, Kalmanovitch moved the store to a larger location at 9605 – 82 Avenue to accommodate its expanding inventory. This allowed the store to offer a broader selection of organic foods, bulk household products, and green living essentials. Earth’s General Store prided itself on being Edmonton’s premiere zero-waste retailer, offering over 475 bulk items and eliminating single-use plastics from its operations.
Despite its success on Whyte Avenue, Earth’s General Store faced financial challenges over the years, particularly with the opening of a second location downtown in 2014. The downtown store struggled due to high overhead costs, and after three years of operating at a loss, Kalmanovitch made the difficult decision to close it in 2017. The Whyte Avenue store continued to serve the community but was not immune to rising costs and shifts in the retail landscape.
On September 20, the store officially announced its closure, citing financial difficulties that had become insurmountable. Kalmanovitch and his team held a farewell celebration for customers on September 22, after holding a GoFundMe campaign. The fundraising effort garnered significant support from the community, but it ultimately fell short of securing the long-term financial stability needed to keep the store open.
In a final social media post, Earth’s General Store announced it had ceased operations: “Despite the incredible support from our customers and the wider Edmonton community, we were unable to secure the funds needed in the time required to continue.” The store also confirmed that all donations from the crowdfunding campaign would be returned to donors.
Earth’s General Store leaves behind a legacy of environmental activism and ethical consumerism in Edmonton. Kalmanovitch, who has been a vocal advocate for sustainable living, used the store not only to sell products but also to raise awareness about issues like climate change, fair trade, and zero-waste living.
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