Thom’s Natural Foods

The store is decent as far as things to purchase, but the vibe is not. I walked in happy, and felt irritated when I left… the people working there didn’t even smile or say hello. I mean I don’t expect every single person in a store to smile at me, but if I’m paying $$$ for food, products etc. up in there and handing over my money at least say «hi, how are you… instead of looking like it’s a chore to deal with me…“It’s not like I’m coming in there broke not being able to pay for my things… Even when I was looking around the store, the people stocking didn’t even say hi, or excuse me, or anything… or even asked if they can help. Just blank robotic, annoyed, resting bitch faces all over the place. Unfortunately due to the experience, I won’t be going back there. I can find similar organic stores at other places, much cheaper, and even some things at Bargain market right up the street. I will take my $$$ to those places.

Longtime customer for over 20yrs. It’s truly very sad to see this once beautiful neighborhood health food store go down due to their rude cashiers, and bad customer service. There is a Disengagement with understanding needs of being a retail store by employees, others who need special access to areas within store. If you hate your life or are angry at the world, you probably shouldn’t have a job where you interact with others. Thom the founder died approximately 15yrs ago, he was kind gracious to his customers he would hand out toys to the children. When he passed he willed his store to his long time employees who then sold it, a friend was one of the employees who told me in my wildness dreams he never knew working at a small grocery store would make him financial stable. Thom would be very disappointed to see his store come to this… Tolerated the rude behavior but after last visit never returning!

The selection is good and products are good even if expensive. But even that can’t make up for rude and impolite cashiers and unwelcoming atmosphere. The employees play punk rock in the store stereo, play with their iPhones, headphones in ears, or talk about personal stuff in front of customers. One time I saw one relax at the cashier stand reading a paperback book. Come on. This is not professional. They also work really hard to show apathy. I mean I don’t need a smile or «have a nice day!» I just want employees to not be rude. Not all Thom’s employees are rude hipsters. People who work in personal care and vitamins are nice and polite. But cashiers? No. The store manager should check on them and have some minimal rules enforcement.

This place has become my neighborhood market. Sweet people and lovely selection on bulk spices, which is perfect for me when I feel like making a huge vat of curry.

I have found this store very useful for finding supplements that aren’t found anywhere else. I personally found the manager, whose name I forget, to be extremely helpful and spent a lot of time with me helping me understand what it is I really needed and where to find it in the store. They also keep on hand a copy of what has become for me a bible of natural cures and health maintenance, ‘Prescription for Nutritional Healing’ by James & Phyllis Balch. He is a MD and she is a nutritional counselor. I often use their copy to show the employees what it is I am looking for and why.
I guess like anyone, anywhere you can get someone who is having a bad day or simply over taxed but generally if you are patient with them they will be patient with you-​if all else fails ask to speak to the manager who is extremely knowledgeable and will help you find what you need or order it for you.
Since I am now retired and have serious health issues I rely on Thom’s for alternative treatments for my problems.
I hope this review will help some of you find what you need and get the service you deserve.

Thom’s is a San Francisco institution… they were there before any notion of Whole Foods or Rainbow. Thom’s was doing organic, vegetarian, and vegan before most anyone knew or cared.
I still love Thom’s but their selection is not that of the larger corporate stores but their prices are pretty good.
Great selection of Vitamins and non dairy desserts as well as pretty good bulk food. They also have some unique things that I have not found anywhere else. Good organic produce and meats as well.
If you believe in supporting local business, I do, than shop here!!!

They have baby’s only organic formula for $ 14.67. It’s same cost as buying online except without the shipping fee. I’m so glad I found a place in the city I can run to in case I run out. Overall store has nice assortment of all hard to find organic products and vitamins. A quick look at produce they have all the seasonal veggies. Kale for $ 2.99. Apples for $ 2.19. I’ll be back to shop more seeing their price is pretty reasonable.

This place has a decent selection but the customer service is pathetic. The employees literally scream at you to get out exactly at 8 pm. I was so frazzled after being screamed at I totally forgot what I needed for dinner. That’s pretty unfortunate since the prices are so high. If there was a different health food store walking distance from my house I’d never step foot into this one again!

This place is definitely over priced but even worse than that is the customer service here is SHOCKING. I’ve lived in the neighborhood for 5 years & really wish this could be my go-​to for last minute items. The only thing that could make me feel better about paying $ 8 for a gallon of organic milk would be a friendly smile from one of the staff. Or an answer from them that didn’t sound like I was putting them out by asking a simple question. If you hate your life or are angry at the world, you probably shouldn’t have a job where you interact with others. This seems to be the disposition of about 95% of the staff here, unfortunately. I’ve tried to just ignore the rudeness but it’s happened way too many times. It’s such a shame because it’s so close to my house.
Alas, it makes me want to throw my money away on expensive organics products elsewhere, such as the market on 22^nd & California. At least there I get a friendly interaction & a pleasant shopping experience.

Local about covers it. Grossly overpriced — can buy identical organic juice at corner store for six bucks less. Only go there for salads and random bin items. Of course, I HATE Rainbow — they are a little too big and pricey for their britches. Thom’s staff is friendly. It’s the Richmond.

I really love this store. I have the flu and I called ahead to ask for Wellness Formula, and Dan was super nice about putting it up by the checkout in my name so my friend could easily grab it and go. Over the decades I have shopped here, I have tons of little stories about finding what I need and how helpful the staff is. They were here long before Whole Foods. A winner!

I really like this store because they’ve been open every time I came and they had the stuff I needed. The inventory is relatively small but it makes sense because its not a huge store. They sell organic sandwich meat which is good and not always easy to find. Also organic wine. Good beauty products too. Occasionally surprisingly good sales. They take credit cards. Parking is a nightmare though so either dont drive here or prepare to be exasperated.

We all have different values and ways of placing value… Most of the low ratings relate to price and yes indeed, you’re going to pay more for per bag, in part because its location means its never going to do WF level of business. Its a local, convenient place to shop for thoughtfully tended produce — something of an oasis in the ‘hood IMHO.
I wonder if those folks complaining about price ever buy starbucks coffee or tea, or few tripple-​the-​price wine by the glass at a restaurants and bars? Me, I make tea at home and carry a thermos, and enjoy tap water when I’m eating out — and put regular savings to pay for convenience and great produce at a store like Thoms.

wow. I sure felt this store in my pocket book. $ 70 for one bag. no meat, no booze just veggies and fruit and a few small things. This store is SO EXPENSIVE. And then I there was no help. One person at the cash register and the other checker left a long line of folks standing there. I shop at organic markets all the time and will avoid this one like the plague. shame on you thom…

More expensive than whole foods, half the selection. Produce selection/​quality is fair. I was hoping for so much better; sadly I won’t be coming back.

So you find yourself in the middle of outer richmond, you’ve got a choice of either going to a greasy chinese food joint or a frequenting one of the local «coffee shops.» I suggest you visit Thom’s Natural Foods. Not only are there no grocery check out lines, you’ll actually get to taste what real food is suppose to taste and smell like. They have decent selection of fruits and veggies, frozen sprouted bread and some organic meats.

*Swoon*
The only place in town…
.where someone will openly, and not shyly, discuss your Grandma’s incontinence and digestion issues, while sweetly recommending one of their bajillion homeopathic remedies to fix said burpy butt. Without blushing, rushing, or giggling.
.that still lovingly wraps up their less-​than-​beautiful produce and makes it available at a steal. community love radiates from those wicker baskets!
.where it isn’t weird at all to get wrapped up in a discussion about salad dressings, their virtues and shortfalls, then end up trading recipes via e-​mail, because the ones you make yourself are just so much better.
.that doesn’t turn on the heat. Maybe not swoon-​worthy, but I do love the wintry vibe that washes over me when I see their staff all bundled up in scarves and mittens while they stock veggies and refill bulk bins.
.five blocks from my house that offers me the best bounty of California’s harvest, untouched by chemicals or fertilizers. There isn’t a price tag that can be attached to this!
Thank you, Thom’s, for feeding me right!

Is your seitan expired? Yeah I bet it is.
Last THREE times I have taken the bus out here to get Seitan, they have had a big box full, sometimes 2 boxes (plain & smoked) and they’re expired by 1 week to 1 month. I let the cashier know, and leave.
So fool me once. fool me 3 times… thank goodness I didnt eat the rotten seitan… there’s a saying here somewhere…
The 2^nd star is for the good memories. My mom and I used to go shopping here every weekend when I was a kid. I miss their Spicy Thai Peanut Noodle Salad SOOOO badly. I would give anything to go back to 1988 and buy the entire bowl out of the deli case and eat it in one sitting.

They have a HUGE variety of vitamins, supplements, minerals and herbs.
If you buy any of the above online and don’t like paying shipping and waiting, try Thoms first. They have saved me alot of time and money! Plus they’re open till 8pm unlike many specialty vitamin stores.
I’ve never purchased food here tho, stuff looks expensive! I’ll stick to TJs for now.

They say that when you go grocery shopping, it’s healthier shopping along the perimeter. That’s where the fresh foods are — your fruits, veggies, your dairy. And that’s generally what I shop for at Thom’s. And though everything here is organic, not everything is always fresh. And every time I come in, there’s something that doesn’t get crossed off my shopping list.
Like yesterday, the entire stack of carrots were rubbery. The raw milk hasn’t been available for a couple weeks. And a few apples in the barrel had visibly large bruises on them. Mush isn’t fresh.
The stuff I did get — beets, celery, and a few of the good apples — fit the bill, though none of it on the cheap. In the end, my relationship with Thom’s is a bit love/​hate. I love the location. I love organic. But I hate that it’s not the one-​stop shop where I can get all of my grocery shopping done.