Specialty organic food store opens

BY MEGHAN BYERS
ANDOVER – Saturday marked the official grand opening of Green Life Market, a specialty organic foods store that will address a long-standing need in Sussex County, according to marketing manager Brittany Dow.
"Customers were driving out to our Butler location from Sussex County and asking us about opening a store in the area," she explained. "We saw a lot of interest."
In March, owner Mike Campbell of Dale's Market and Garden Center reached out looking to sell the store, and Kamel Yassin took the opportunity to open his second location in Andover this July after four years of running the Butler store. Yassin owns both locations along with his three sons: Ameer, Ramez, and Murad Yassin.
"All of them have a hand in each location," said Dow, who is Ameer's fiancée. "It's truly a family business."
Mayor Dolores Blackburn of Andover attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony on the morning of the grand opening, along with a crowd of eager Sussex County residents. "None of us could be happier," said Dow of the attendance on Saturday. "We actually ran out of carts and baskets." The event included live music in the greenhouse, pumpkin painting, and giveaways, with a particular spotlight on local vendors.
"We want to add to the community and support local businesses," said Ameer Yassin. "In every store that we open, we try to make organic and healthy alternatives more accessible. We want to support practices that are good for people and good for the planet."
Despite its competitors, Dow is confident that Green Life Market brings something unique to Sussex County. In addition to grocery items, the store offers a juice bar, smoothies, hot and cold lunches – all made with organic ingredients – and a wide variety of dietary supplements.
"I'm very proud of our staff and I'm proud of the specialized knowledge they have," Dow said. "It's great building relationships with our customers and knowing everybody by name."
Dow envisions more events in Green Life Market's future – possibilities include live music, cookouts, yoga classes in the greenhouse, and educational seminars about supplements and organic foods.
"We're striving to be a community store," she said. "Now that we have this location with all this room, we're capable of so much more. We used to only be able to go to events, but now we can host them. We feel like the sky's the limit now."
Green Life Market is located in Andover at 238 Newton Sparta Road, and is open seven days a week.