50 years after its founding and half a mile east of its original location, Mastel's Health Foods remains a trusted source of quality nutritional supplements and excellent customer service. Many customers wonder about the history of this long-standing neighborhood business.
John Mastel made up his mind to open a health food store in the mid-1960s, after experiencing several long illnesses. Convinced he'd exhausted all the options provided by conventional medicine, a gravely ill John picked up the holistic how-to manual You Can Change Your Life, and resolved to do just that.
On December 9th, 1968, Mastel's Health Foods opened its doors near the corner of Fairview and Saint Clair Avenues in Saint Paul, Minnesota. John recruited a tight crew of fellow health enthusiasts to run the shop during the day so he could continue his job at the Highway Department. He devoted himself to the shop on evenings and weekends.
"When people asked me why I started the store, I said, 'to improve my health.'" But that's only part of the story. John quickly developed a symbiotic relationship with his clientele. "My customers were a thrill!" he once said. "They inspired me to be better, gave me pointers, and shared their experiences." John gained as much from them as they did from the store.
Long before the vitamin industry exploded, John Mastel earned a reputation for staying abreast of cutting-edge nutritional news and advocating for access to the best supplements on the market. John devoted prolonged personal attention to every customer. His attentive ear and vast knowledge base earned him a loyal following that holds steady to this day.
Business gained momentum through the 1970s, attracting folks within a 40-mile radius. In 1977, John quit his day job to work at the shop full time. That same year, he decided to move Mastel's up the street to its present location at 1526 Saint Clair Avenue. With 50% more space, the new venue created room for more products and made for a more comfortable shopping experience. At the turn of the century, John phased into retirement while maintaining ownership of the business.
Today Mastel's boasts a knowledgeable and caring staff who is committed to upholding John's governing philosophy: Good health extends beyond oneself when you share your knowledge and resources with others.
With over 4,000 products on the shelves and a mail order service that extends its client base by thousands of miles, Mastel's Health Foods keeps apace with a booming industry while retaining its dedication to superior products and personalized service just as John intended at the outset- 50 years ago.
