New Leaf Community Markets

This New Leaf is smaller than most. It’s located next to the gym which is a good spot for gym goers I guess. Parking lot gets pretty crowded and the back area is a bit shady/​scary to park in when it’s dark.
Overall, it’s a decent market when you purchase during the day.

apparently they have switched from locally made «dream time» products to Bucky. Why don’t you just become whole foods already, because that was one thing that set you apart. After shopping at new Leaf for 20 years I am DONE… terrible terrible customer service while trying to find my beloved dream time eye pillow (what’s that, go to Way of Life? I would have if they didn’t close repulsively early).

I have shopped pretty much exclusively at New Leaf for the last seven years… now that the senior discount is only on Wednesdays, I now spend more money at Aptos Natural Foods since they give 10% senior discount EVERY day. Their prices are often less than New Leaf as well, and their staff is pleasant and helpful. I like the smaller shopping experience and they carry most everything I incorporate into my healthy diet. So, New Leaf is getting approximately half of the money I used to spend there.

The corporate policy for (against?!) seniors is draconian. No other health food store I’ve ever shopped at (going on 50 years now) is this strict. The senior discount is on Wednesdays only, and if you don’t have this special card with you, you’re outa luck. I have shopped here for many years and otherwise love the store, but this is too much, and the requirement was expressed in rather unsympathetic terms by the store manager. There are many other health food stores in Santa Cruz, so we’ll be checking them out next week.

Love this place but they are remodeling and the quality control has slipped a bit on the to go food in the deli. I was thrilled to have discovered the Coastal Kale Salad with almonds, cranberries, pumpkin and sunflower seeds and tender, fresh kale. Today I went in and purchased the LAST TWO containers and when I unpacked them at home for lunch, only kale and maybe ten sunflower seeds… huh? Why even put them out? Who did that?
On the other hand, the juice bar is priceless. Fast, great service and delicious food and drink.

I worked here decades ago when there was only one on the Westside. I have great memories of that. I have loved shopping at all the New Leafs for many years. The one on the Westside and the one on 41^st are especially abundant with very fresh produce and anything one could need for the kitchen! hey also have home made food and juice bars which are excellent. The environment on the Westside is very upbeat. I like walking in just cause it feels happy. The environment on 41^st is clean and peaceful. I feel very good there.

I have been going to New leaf market for many many years as long as I can remember they are by far the best I support my local business nice people it’s clean everything about it is great

Second time I’ve ordered a sandwich here. First time they forgot to put a bunch of the stuff I wanted on it, no biggie, people make mistakes. I ate it and didn’t complain. Second time, not only did they forget a bunch of the stuff I ordered in it, but the produce was rotten, and it looked like my 3 year old little brother made it. Smushed and all falling apart. Brown lettuce, mealy tomatoes, and brown sprouts. Come on deli, get it together. No apologies either when I called to let them know. Tisk tisk– I won’t eat there again.

Always a pleasure when in Santa Cruz – three to choose from and great options and slection – fresh or stock – for healthy or veg favorites head on in

Juice bar is amazing and this is by far my favorite new leaf of all of the ones in Santa Cruz :)
Happy employees and happy customers!

My family and I have been shopping at New Leaf for all of our produce, bulk foods, and every day eating. We work and spend most of our time in Capitola, so it is convenient to purchase our organic food at New Leaf. But I think it is about to change. There’s a guy in the produce that is super rude. On handful of occasions he ignores the customers and if you try to reach for produce where he is restocking he will not budge or allow the customers to shop. I was with my 6 year old son at the time and I’ve politly asked him if I could get in and he did, but not with out guffing about it. He barely moved the cart to let me reach. In frustration I pushed his cart and it rolled to the back of the stock room! :)
A few days ago around 5 pm my husband went to grab a purple cabbage. He wanted a small size, because we don’t use a lot of it. This same clerk guffed and told him, «they always pick the bottom right corner.» and gave him a dirty look for even being there. My husband gave it right back and told him, «I could get the one you want me to, but this is the one am going to get». Then left. If it were me, I wouldn’t have been as nice to the jerk. So it takes bad customer service to permanently loose consistant customers who have been shopping at New Leaf since 1992. Going to check out Staff of Life and I will let you know how that goes. I hope the managers of New Leaf read this and offers their employee’s training on customer service. Good riddance New Leaf!

You are better off going to Staff of Life in Santa Cruz, the people are friendlier, more helpful, the store has better prices and a larger selection of food items. I shopped at New Leaf a few times but the people who work there are horrible human beings who are extremely rude to you and unwilling to assist you.

Even though west side is bigger, this new leaf takes the cake in my opinion. It seems like they have everything, i end up never having to go somewhere else. The lay out is chill and very easy breezy to shop through. Love this place* (and lower rates than SOL)

Love love love this store! Everyone is so friendly. I love the Non-​GMO project and the smart chickens, although I wish they would get Mary’s chicken which is local and just as good. In fact, I think their certifications might even be better than Smart not completely sure.
Tank you!

best of the best!
I was worried when I heard that there was a change of ownership, but the quality is still there.
The store is so clean.
love it.
way better than whole foods by a mile!

The meat dept feels a little smaller than other stores but I still stop by if I’m in the area. I love you, New Leaf.

I come to town about once a month. I try to always have lunch here and take groceries and prepared food home for a few days. The brown rice and vegetable plate is moist and tasty. The whole deli area is great, but there is a preponderance of meat items.
Comfortable and tasty and good for me. Yea! PS, there is no more all-​the-​time-​senior discount anymore. They lowered all prices and left a smaller senior discount on Wednesdays (I think).

«We’re open but we’ve closed all the machines down. We’re sorry.»
I’m confused, does that mean you’re closed?
Went into New Leaf to grab a coffee or a smoothie a couple hours before they closed yesterday and they’d already shut down all the machines. Kinda bummed, not going to lie.
Ended up buying bulk items at good prices! But I was bummed about not getting a smoothie, definitely bummed about that.

Okay this is for this sickeningly sweet raw cupcake treat next to the black china vegan cupcake at the new beat café:
too sweet, she must have gone to living light and used agave could barely taste the cacao flavor and if had eaten it in store would have returned.
overall the market is okay… i like staff better.
also prices are out of sight… reminds me a balducccis in NYC or draegers.
also check out men are pleasant, check out women are mostly wicked not very kind or helpful.

New Leaf is always awesome. Nice people, awesome products — friends end up workin there. I always head straight there if at all possible.
Organic groceries, natural cleaning products, and I understand they have a new side for ordering food (have not yet tried that).
Way of Life moved out and right across the parking lot.