Originally known as Blanco Valley Health, Real Foods Market will be closing their doors by the end of March.

After thirteen dedicated years in business, Real Foods has become more than just a health food store for our beloved town of Blanco. Blanco has been known for its quaint and somewhat predictable surroundings and businesses. Sherri Stockman, owner of Real Foods, saw a need for a different kind of business. As Sherri puts it, “It’s always been more than just a business, it’s been a ministry.” Sherri’s passion to help people find their way to natural health alternatives has drawn in an eclectic group of people throughout the years. East meets west, cowboys meet politicians, Christians meet non-Christians, these are just a few unlikely interactions of groups that would meet up in Real Foods on any given day. Regardless of your stereotype, when you walked through the doors of Real Foods, everyone held one thing in common; they were all welcome.

Today’s reactions have been, “What will we do now, where will we go?” Not to mention the unavoidable question, “Why?” Although Real Foods has been a huge success in terms of service to the community, a common place for morning coffee, a staple for providing natural and organic foods, it has had it’s obstacles throughout the years to stay a float. Contributing to the demise and subsequent bankruptcy, TxDOT closed 4th St. in front of Real Foods for fourteen months.

To truly know Sherri Stockman, is to admire her. From the very start, she and the store have been resilient to misconceptions of what the store stood for and what her intentions were. Although the physical address of Real Foods will close, Real Foods itself will still be available online. Supplements and other items residents have come to love and cannot live without; as well as some non-perishable foods, will still be available.

Many new residents to Blanco have confessed that one of the reasons they chose to live in Blanco was because of Real Foods. So, as the saying goes: You don’t know what you have until it’s gone… as a customer, friend and part-time employee of Real Foods, I wish Sherri well and thank her for giving so much of herself and for laying the ground work to bring compassion and awareness regarding health, help and happiness to this quaint and unassuming town of Blanco.

To contact Real Foods: 830-494-2781 or visit Real-foods.net