When I first discovered Rhubarb’s Market, I wasn’t even living in Lancaster. I was living 10 miles away in Manheim, but driving past it on many occasions as it’s located in the same shopping center as the grocery store we use, as well as A.C. Moore (and now Michael’s), and it’s right next to our pharmacy.

Rhubarb’s Market is known both as an organic food store, and a health food/vitamin shop. It depends on who you ask. I don’t believe they label themselves as one or the other, but market themselves to everyone who would be interested in natural products.

It’s actually quite a small shop, but it’s organized well, and could easily take an hour or more to browse. When you first walk in, on the left is a vitamin and health care section. This is where I went for my Red Yeast Rice pills when my doctor recommended them for my (slightly) high triglicerides. Of course, being a specialty store, they were quite expensive, and I found a cheaper alternative online. The quality of what they carried at Rhubarb’s was vastly superior, but my wallet continued to place its vote elsewhere.

That corner is also where you’ll find all natural shampoos, lotions, and even cosmetics. I rarely even look in that section.

To the right, is your jarred, canned, and dry goods. They have a whole wall devoted to organic and healthy chips, as well as natural/organic/healthy cereals. If you’re unfamiliar with these products, you may be surprised. Some of these snacks and cereals are tastier than their corporate counterparts. I’m particularly fond of Mother’s brand “Bumpers” cereals in cocoa and peanut butter flavors.

Have you ever had organic ginger ale made with honey instead of sugar? You can get it there. Triticale flour for your baking? Yup. Amaranth? Dude. Even our big grocery store with the well stocked organic section doesn’t have that, but Rhubarb’s does. This is where I discovered Salmon burgers (all natural, wild salmon- not bad), and I’ve been pestering them to order Dilberitos (which they insist their distributor doesn’t carry).

But my favorite thing about Rhubarb’s Market, is that they stock an entire display unit full of ginger products. Organic ginger tabs (they come in tins like Altoids, but they’re made with actual ginger and molasses), ginger chews in several flavors, candied ginger, and some other things that I can’t think of right now. I love ginger.

While there are actually two Rhubarb’s Markets in Lancaster, I prefer the one down the road from where I live now. It’s located on Route 501, technically in the same building as A.C. Moore, but around the side facing the highway. It’s tucked back into the parking lot, and you’d barely know that it’s there. In fact, when driving North on 501 (leaving the city) I just look for CVS and turn into the next parking lot. There’s a sign for R.B. Shap’s (shoe store), and just across from the store is a consignment shop for very cool items- both hand crafted and vintage.

Rhubarb’s Market is a great little shop, packed with interesting items, and friendly, usually
knowledgeable staff. While I would like to have a bit more variety in places to shop, I do appreciate that we have Rhubarb’s to give us a taste of what’s out there. And when I spend my money there instead of at the big grocery store with the nice organic section, I feel that I’m helping the small companies grow their businesses. And since I hope to be a small company some day, it’s like investing in my own future.

This post has been brought to you by Travis Erwin’s “My Town Mondays“. Check his site for more blogs offering up information on their home towns.