Rollin' Oats Market — Attraction in Saint Petersburg

Exceptionally excellent local health food store that I've been shopping at since they opened, shortly after I moved to St. Pete, 26 years ago. I profoundly appreciate them because, long before there were other options here in St. Pete, they were the one place I could go to find a lot of wheat-free foods like wheat-free bread. I don't eat wheat on the diet I follow and, until recent years, you could basically forget finding wheat-free bread, pasta, etc., at other stores. But I didn't originally start shopping there for that, as I have merely been wheat-free since 1997 (!), whereas, I've been shopping at Rollin' Oats since they opened in 1994, I think it was. Why? Because they have pure, clean, high-quality organic foods, that's why! I do virtually all homemade now but, back in the day when I used to be the carry-out queen, I bought all sorts of delicious stuff that they make there in their cafe, like their curried-apple-walnut chicken salad, for example. Even now in 2020, with all the other choices for "health food nuts" like myself, and foodies (also like myself lol) in town, there is still NOWHERE else I can get my favorite brand of wheat-free bread, my favorite marinara sauce, my fave dark-toasted sesame oil, organic lemon juice concentrate with no preservatives, craft gingerale with no corn syrup, etc. They also have an outstanding selection of vitamins and supplements with really knowledgeable staff members to help you/answer questions. Which brings me to my last but not least: the owners and staff at Rollin' Oats are great. The owners have kept it local for decades and seem to be committed to doing so. I used to wish for a certain large health food chain to come to St. Pete, but now, I couldn't care less, because ever since Rollin' Oats expanded a few years ago, they are really far BETTER than any national chain (and the particular national chain I'm thinking of has meanwhile sold out completely but I digress) I can think of. In fact, I really think that Rollin' Oats is, by far, the best health food store I've ever shopped at anywhere, and I'm from the suburbs of Washington, DC originally, went to college up in Vermont, have family in NYC...I've shopped in some avant garde places: Rollin' Oats has them all beat in terms of great ownership, great staff, and an amazing selection of high-quality, organic foods. Viva...

I am a long time customer , forty five plus years ! I have shopped at this store and witnessed it’s growth and expansion for decades. As a person who worked in the natural foods business , retail and restaurant/juice bar for many years myself , customer care and knowledge and pertinent information is essential to me. I always recommend Rollin Oats for food, and for supplements, to friends who know my interest and serious lifelong involvement in health and nutrition. I am so disappointed to know that one of your best employees was let go. I realize that I can no longer send my people there for expert consultation . The number one reason I feel strongly about this is really the dedication and knowledge and experience base of one of your long term employees, Kim Dixon. I had shopped at Rollin Oats for, long term , and always consulted with Kim when purchasing vitamins, minerals, herbs , and other supplements. I am aware of her long life involvement and experience, which greatly surpasses my own, so I have never hesitated to send anyone to her , at Rolling Oats. I have only gotten excellent feedback from anyone I have ever sent , based on depth of knowledge, willingness to share, awareness of contraindications for persons with certain health conditions . I was able to get to know Kim well when we both attended school to become Clinical Chinese Herbalists, as she went before me as a senior, and was so helpful in our internship with clients and in our classroom analysis and discussions . She brought clinical insight, intuitive and experiential knowledge together in a way that no one else did and that benefited the wide range of our client based needs. This was such an asset to our program and I am sure a great benefit to your business as well. Kim is dedicated, persistent, ever learning and sharing her deep knowledge base , and she walks the walk in every aspect of her wholistic journey.She in authentic, compassionate and always learning and growing. Kim was always so helpful and resourceful and working many departments when needed. In 2020 , especially when so many lives were disrupted , she dug in and tried to do as much as possible to be of service to the Rollin Oats community and the community beyond ! I am really disappointed that she is no...

I've been going to Rollin' Oats for probably 11 years or so now, and I'm so disappointed to know that Kim was let go. Her help in the supplements department was the majority of the reason I came.

I've been chronically ill since I had a massive allergic reaction in 2013, and Kim was listening to me before any doctor ever did. There are so many times where her recommendations were, quite literally, the reason I was able to still function. Specific example: my doctors ignored me for years when I expressed that my birth control was most likely creating a bunch of my health issues. Kim didn't. She got me to try evening primrose, and it was the only thing that got me through the days full of extreme body pain, emotional breakdowns in traffic, intense digestive issues, headaches, etc. Kim was right about it being a hormone balance issue, and gave me the validation that I needed. I finally found a doctor that listened, and she discontinued my birth control. So many of my issues cleared up almost immediately. It saved my life because it turns out that the style of birth control that I was on, combined with some of my other health issues, put me at an extremely high risk of stroke. It took 8 years to get a doctor to listen to me. Kim figured it out while I was on a shopping trip.

I was always able to trust that Kim knew what to recommend, and that she had my best interests at heart. It never felt like I was being sold the most expensive thing or dismissed. I don't think I ever asked her a question that she didn't know the answer to.

You lost a good one Rollin' Oats. I don't know what your reasoning was, but all I ever saw as as customer was a woman who cared, was very knowledgeable, and was worth waiting my turn to be helped in...