An Extraordinary Grocery Store Downtown

By: Evelyn Rodriguez/ Intern staff reporter

A new grocery store has opened in Long Beach and it is the first-ever, package-free 100% vegan grocery store. Ethikli (pronounced ethically) opened on March 19. It offers various items that non-traditional grocery stores do.

The concept for Ethikli came after the founder, Katy Impellizzeri, who is a first-generation Sicilian, became inspired eight years ago by package-free items. This was after she viewed a video on youtube about it which she noted in her journal. Katy has also been vegetarian for eight years and vegan for nine years.

“I started in high school after seeing videos of animal farming. I learned more about it and the impact it has on the climate, and the dairy industry,” said Impellizzeri.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic shut the world down, Katy worked as a yoga instructor. However, she wanted to pursue the passion that she deeply desired as she had written down years ago in her journals. So she went for it.

“It was magical how it happened, I found a space and moved to Long Beach,” said Impellizzeri.

There are other vegan grocery stores but none like Ethikli. It’s a one-of-a-kind sustainable, ethically sourced, and vegan one-stop shop for all your basic essentials. Not only does it offer food items but it also sells everything from soaps, tote bags, clothing, and much more.

The store has its own style and way of doing things. It’s filled with bulk bins that are covered with lids. A nut butter machine allows its customers to make their own butter. One cool option customers have is to purchase basil, sage, strawberries, cilantro, and rosemary for them to plant at home. Fresh bread is delivered to the shop and the number one selling item is pickles.

As for clothing items, there is one rack of clothing in the store at the moment but Katy is hopeful to add many more items in that department.

Customers are encouraged to bring their own containers/mason jars for the food items they are purchasing. If you happen to forget your containers Ethikli does sell them at the stores. They also offer free containers and the store accepts empty and clean jars as a donation for future buyers. The donation jars are cleaned and sanitized after being handed to store employees.

“We are adding new things every day so the look of the store changes daily,” said Impellizzeri.

Ethikli had its grand opening on March 19 which Katy says was a huge success. “There were a lot of people, which was overwhelming,” said Impellizzeri.

Ethikli is at 352 E. 4th St. The store hours are Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on weekends from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.