EAT WASHINGTON/ My Favorite Markets: Mom's Organic Market in Del Ray

The carrots on display at Mom's taste like spicy bits of Heaven. Just like Mom would proffer them.

By Julia Watson

ALEXANDRIA, VA. - Mrs. Nash must be a mom who is very proud of her son.

At 22, in 1987, Scott Nash launched a business selling organic produce with $100. That's about what you can dish out on a single shopping trip to Whole Foods.

Called back then Organic Foods Express, it started as a mail order and home delivery enterprise operating out of his mother's garage in Beltsville, MD. It didn't take long before he had to rent a 900 square foot warehouse.

Organic ingredients to make vegan chocolate chip cookies.

Then in 1989, OFE moved to Rockville and a 2,000 foot outlet also open to the public. It was such a success as a retail market that Nash eventually closed down the delivery and mail order side and focused on selling organic produce at the lowest prices possible.

By 1996, OFE was such a success that Nash needed to expand further. After a six months' closing, OFE reopened in a 6,000 square foot location and renamed itself MOM's - Mom's Organic Market.

Good for Nash to acknowledge his mom in his success and good that his success has led to such growth. Now he has six locations around the D.C. area, including one in Del Ray, and expects to open more.

What's also great about them is they're not sited in high end areas.

The branch in Del Ray is in a depressed area designated an "Enterprise Zone" and the second one he opened is in College Park, a part of Prince George's County where doubters said a Mom's could never work.

Now it generates more revenue per foot than any of his other stores.

Two years later, OFE moved its location to a 2,000 square foot space in Rockville, MD with the intent of opening a retail outlet.  Initially, OFE opened Friday through Sunday to the public while conducting home deliveries and mail order Monday through Thursday.

Eventually, as the retail aspect of OFE increased, the delivery/mail order was phased out.  OFE opened to the public seven days a week for retail sales.  "Our niche then, as it is today, was high quality organic produce, discount prices, and exceptional customer service," said Nash.

In 1996, after being closed for six months to prepare for expansion, Organic Foods Express reopened as MOM‘s in a 6,000 square foot location in Rockville within a half-mile of the previous location.

In 1998, after annual revenue increases of more then 50 percent (generated solely from word-of-mouth referrals), MOM‘s doubled its size by expanding into the adjacent vacant space.

In August, 2000, MOM‘s College Park opened.  

While searching for this second location, many real estate "experts" suggested that a MOM‘s in College Park (Prince George‘s County) would never work.  Being just 2 miles from Scott‘s childhood home, he knew the area well and was not deterred.  

However, within two years of opening the College Park MOM‘s, it now grosses more revenue per foot than any other MOM‘s location.
 
If You're Going...
Mom's Organic Market
3831 Mt Vernon Ave
Alexandria VA.
703 535 5980.
Read more of Julia's blog at www.eatwashington.com.