Momentum Magazine December 2016 Edition | страница 9

A ‘Natur al’ Pr og r ession
Everything Natural
welcomes new owner
For Neil Persad, the new owner of Clarks
Summit’s Everything Natural, purchasing the
regional health food institution was just the
latest step in a lifetime dedicated to wellness.
“I stand for healthy living; I am very passionate
in what I do,” he said. “This is who I am. My
lifestyle goes beyond eating, I strongly believe in
protecting the environment. This is my element.”
Former store co-owners Barry and Donna Kaplan and
Michele Cooper surprised the regional business community

when they placed the store on the market in 2014. Everything Natural opened in June of 1984
and has always been headquartered in Clarks Summit.
“For over 30 years, we’ve endeavored to support people with tools, information and, of course,
the products they need to live a healthier and happier life,” Barry Kaplan said. “Naturally, that
focused on a lot of organic, natural foods that were cleanest and best available and uniting that
with the most up-to-date and accurate information, with a mix of fun as well.”
Persad is no stranger to the health food industry, already owning another store, Nature’s
Harvest, in Blairstown, New Jersey. He has also worked as a sales representative in the industry
for more than 25 years.
“I would say that the people and the energy of the store are what attracted me,” he said. “This
store has a strong energy. It’s a different feeling when you come to Clarks Summit.”
“We were hoping for a buyer who understood our store and Neil is the guy,” Kaplan added. “It
is a perfect match. He shares the mission and will carry it forward. He has what it takes to take
Everything Natural into the future.”
Part of Persad’s plans for Everything Natural
include installing a juice and smoothie bar and
offering prepared sandwiches and soups. He will
also continue the store’s signature events, such
as open houses, holistic health fairs and special
guest speakers.
“In the health food industry, you keep evolving,”
he said. “My plan is to help improve the quality
of people’s lives through growth and education.
I’m really looking forward to getting to know the
community better.”
Persad’s first event with Everything Natural will be a grand reopening as part of the store’s
annual holistic health fair this January.
“I’m a person who wakes up every morning feeling
great,” he said. “The way I was raised allowed me
to never be sick in my life. That’s part of what drew
me to the health food industry. I look forward to
getting up and coming to work. It is natural for me
to be here. It’s not a job, it’s my hobby.”
“It’s not the standard of life, it’s the quality of
life that’s important,” Persad added. “Making a
difference in people’s lives, that’s what we’re here
for. The human connection is what is important.”

Holistic
Health Fair

Saturday, January 14th
11am - 3pm

There will be a variety of vendors, health
screenings, gift basket giveaways and food!

Welcome
new members
Abington Equine Hospital
Richard Emanuelson
Grapevine Design & Trinka Studios
JPW Consulting
Keystone Structural Group LLC
Marzano Italian Grill
Pikes Creek Site Contractors
Smart Media

Ttohank
You
our sponsors
Leadership Lackawanna Core
Program Session Sponsor: The
University of Scranton
Leadership Lackawanna Tomorrow’s
Leaders Today Program Session
Sponsor: Johnson College
Master Class in Sales: Steve Schiffman

2016 Chamber Gala and
SAGE Awards
Presenting Sponsor: Peoples Security
Wealth Management Group
Gold Sponsors:
Entercom Wilkes-Barre Scranton
Lamar Advertising
Times-Shamrock Communications
Toyota Scranton
Silver Sponsors:
Commonwealth Health
Prudential
Bronze Sponsors:
Baker Tilly
Frontier Communications
Happenings Magazine
Honesdale National Bank
Lexington Entertainment
MCR Productions
Michael Straub Photography
Nasser Limousine
POSH at The Scranton Club
Posture Interactive
PPL Electric Utilities
Quandel Construction
Sculpted Ice Works
Spencer Printing
Tuxedo by Sarno
www.scrantonchamber.com • 9