About Us
Welcome!
We are glad you are here!
Sunspot Natural Market was founded on November 1st, 1977 by Joan Johnson in a humble farmhouse in northeast Howard County. She was inspired by her entrepreneurial maternal grandfather Anthony Amato who started a gourmet grocery store in Springfield, Ohio when he immigrated from Sicily. He offered the town unusual fresh fruits and vegetables such as avocados (called "alligator pears") and specialty European cheeses. He was the first grocer to have a frozen food section!
On Joan's paternal side, her grandmother Clara Schifferli (an immigrant from Switzerland) had a beautiful herb garden in upstate New York, and after reading some of her herbals, Joan decided to open a natural shop that would offer healing herbs and local raw spearmint honey, bulk grains, eggs, nuts, granola, teas and natural body care, along with a book section for education on "back to the land" living.
People came, even out in such a remote location! She realized quickly that a larger space was needed and to be closer to town. So the move came the following year to 312 E. Markland in a strip mall. That space also needed to be enlarged for the growing customer base so she expanded to 314 E Markland Avenue. Sunspot Natural Market became a beam of light in the Kokomo community for folks looking for a natural lifestyle.
In 1998 an opportunity arose to purchase a building at 3717 S Reed Road (931 S) in Kokomo with two floors and plenty of space for all the departments necessary. Sunspot flourishes there to this day, still local family owned and operated, now with three generations!
We gratefully accept all people to help them with their needs, whether looking for food with cleaner ingredients, special diets, gourmet ingredients from around the globe for exploring new recipes, fresh natural produce (local whenever possible!), raw organic juices, frozen foods, grass-fed meats and dairy, fresh, pastured eggs, local honey, natural bodycare, vitamins and herbs (our bulk herb section with over 250 herbs to choose from is very popular!) homeopathic remedies, gems and crystals from the mineral kingdom, a grab-n-go section of natural foods for those who need a quick meal, etc.
Upstairs Sunspot is now a healing center with seven rooms for different modalities including different types of yoga, Reiki treatments and classes, Z Health and Pilates.
In 2004, Sunspot West Lafayette was born and serves the Purdue area with the same attention to the finest healing products as the Kokomo location. It is the centerpiece store in the University Square Plaza at 500 West Sagamore Parkway.​
In 2008, exciting changes came about looking forward to the new generations! Joan partnered with her two daughters, Eva Anderson and Koya Moon, her niece Angela Anderson and her husband, Michael Anderson. They all grew up with The Sunspot and so their years of experience have infused both Sunspot locations with fresh ideas and expertise!
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Michael is serving as Vice President and also heads up the all important IT department. He has also served 15 years on the board of the Midwest American Health Organization (or MAHO), including three terms as President. MAHO overlooks independent health food stores in 15 states.
General Managers
Angela Anderson,
Kokomo Location
Left
Amanda Hosier,
West Lafayette Location
Right
Sunspot Natural Market is proud to be a member of the Independent Natural Food Retailers Association (INFRA). As part of this cooperative of independently owned natural food stores, we gain the benefits of a co-op, without our customers needing to join one themselves. This partnership allows us to bring you the highest quality organic and natural products at competitive prices, such as in our sales flyer, while maintaining the unique, personalized shopping experience that sets us apart. Our INFRA membership is a testament to our dedication to supporting independent businesses and fostering a vibrant, health-conscious community.
Sunspot carefully curates what is accepted to be on the shelf so you do not have to worry. This includes the vitamin and herbal supplement lines you will find on Sunspot's shelves so you get the results of a more vibrant life you are looking for! Many of our customers have testimonials and tell their friends and family members about us, too!
How We Operate
The Golden Rule guides our policies, how would we want to be treated? We strive to make you feel welcome and listened to. We offer a generous refund policy if something wasn't the right fit. We have fun, too, and are genuinely happy to see you walk through our doors or call us! (you will always hear a human answer!)
We don't push product on our customers. We help guide you to the right products because it can be confusing to know what route to take sometimes or what is available. We keep up to date on all the latest proven discoveries and only order from reputable companies, many of which we have personally inspected their labs!
We offer discounts for Seniors, Students, School Staff and Faculty Members, Current Military, and Veterans. Just sign up for a FREE "Feel Good!" card at the register to activate all of our sale prices and to activate your personal discounts!
Our Staff
Sunspot employs more than 30 local folks between the two stores, many of whom have been with us for decades! Experience in the natural foods world with frequent trainings and expos is key for continued learning. Our buyers know our policies of striving for the purest "top shelf" products available.
Giving Back
Sunspot donates food to local agencies such as the Rescue Mission and many other causes we believe in. We donate gift baskets to Samaritan Caregivers, Humane Society, Food Finders, and We Care along with gift cards and free products to the arts such as symphonies and the theaters. We also help out with school fundraisers such as sports and trips, and various other community programs.
Sustainability
Sunspot Kokomo was the first business in 2008 to put solar panels on the roof, saving countless tons of CO2 from the atmosphere!
We offer Glacier water machines at each location so customers can refill their gallons to cut down on plastic. The machines are suited with carbon filters, reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet sterilization.
We also offer glass bottles for our kombucha bars that can be returned to fill with locally sourced kombucha again!
Sustainability also includes ordering from and encouraging local farmers! Fewer "food miles" and helping a neighbor, a win-win! Our eggs, milk, raw honey, and produce is second to none because they are naturally produced/grown and fresh.
We save cardboard boxes for Ted Weber Speakers (a local Kokomo Company that we share a parking lot with). Ted Weber Speakers then reuses them to ship out their excellent products. Another local company picks up our packing peanuts for their shipping needs. We also reuse cardboard boxes for our own shipping department.
We also have a pollinator-friendly landscape, so the butterflies and bees have a safe place to eat and habitate!​
Contact Us
Call us! However, it is ideal to come in and say hi, look around, and enjoy a complimentary cup of herbal tea to sip on! Pick up our current sale flyer (with fantastic deep discounts!). We love to hear from you, but seeing and being with you, and getting to know your name is absolutely the best! We are "people people"!