To Our Santa Cruz Naturals Community,

This is a hard letter to write.

For nearly 17 years, Santa Cruz Naturals has been part of the fabric of Aptos. What started as a small, family-driven vision became something much bigger than a storefront. It became relationships. Conversations. Trust. Shared history.

We are a family owned and operated business; we raised our family here while building this business. We have watched customers grow up, change careers, heal, struggle, celebrate, and evolve right alongside us. Many of you have been with us since the early medical days. You took a chance with us. You believed in what we were building. That has meant everything.

We have not only watched customers become friends; we have walked with some of you through the ends of your lives. We have seen employees meet here, fall in love, and now raise children of their own. We have watched families start and grow. There are generations now that have come through Santa Cruz Naturals. That is something we will carry with us forever.

The model we created worked for many years. We were proud of it. We built it carefully and with intention. But the level of state taxation and the increasingly burdensome regulatory structure have made it an impossible market for us to continue operating in sustainably. The math simply no longer works, no matter how hard we try.

This decision comes with a lot of emotion. Gratitude. Sadness. Pride. Love. What is not changing is our commitment to this community. We are staying. Our family remains here. We will continue to show up, support local businesses, participate in community life, and stay connected to the people who have made this chapter of our lives so meaningful.

Thank you for 17 years of loyalty, kindness, and trust. Thank you for supporting a locally owned family business. Thank you for allowing us to be part of your lives.

It has truly been one of the great honors of ours.

With deep appreciation,

The Santa Cruz Naturals Family