When co-owners Erin Dalton and Travis Lemon opened Tulsi’s At The Market in 2018, they did so with a deliberate vision for the local business landscape.

“We deserved a health food store in downtown Huntington,” Dalton said. "We wanted to make it more than just selling these products. We want to offer products that might help you live a healthier life, but also have conversations about being mindful and finding where that lies for you."

Now approaching its 8-year anniversary as a business, Tulsi continues to expand its customer base, its inventory options, and its reputation as a reliable source for unique health and wellness products in the Huntington region. Along with a large variety of specialty grocery and food items, the open-air store features a finely curated regional craft beer section, a unique selection of organic wines, a growing selection of skin, beauty, and hygiene products, and a variety of one-of-kind gifts for holidays and special occasions. 

Most notably, Tulsi’s in-house brand of supplements and wellness products continues to grow in popularity. Dalton credits the success of the Tulsi brand to the owners’ commitment to quality products backed by science. 

"We work with a lot of companies that support small business rather than sell to big-box stores, and we are both really passionate about science," Dalton said. "We're so picky about the quality of our supplements. Almost everything here is independently tested by a third-party. A lot of the wellness industry, especially in the past few years, has started to rely on manipulative marketing, and we just don’t want to do that."

This commitment to a unique inventory of the highest quality is visible on every shelf. By building their own brand and focusing on independent vendors rather than massive wellness corporations, the owners ensure that their vision remains unique to the region they call home. 

“I'm a health food nerd,” Dalton said. “We’ve started getting some more specialty grocery brands that I would travel to find. We are starting to bring more food and have been having a lot of luck with people seeing us as a specialty grocery as well. 

“I think that's a big surprise for a lot of people when they come in and see that we have a store brand that is such good quality and that we have such a variety of products,” Lemon added.” And our brand keeps growing and growing all the time.”

A Partnership Rooted in Wellness

The success of Tulsi is rooted in the expertise of its founders. Lemon is a certified herbalist with years of experience managing regional health food stores. He regularly shares his wealth of health knowledge with the community through a column in The Herald-Dispatch. Dalton spent years as a yoga instructor and mindfulness teacher, and has been active in the Huntington wellness and non-profit communities for years. Both Dalton and Lemon are avid meditators, a practice that heavily influences their approach to their business. 

Much of this philosophy lies in direct contrast to now-infamous media reports that once classified Huntington as the “unhealthiest city in America.” Dalton is quick to point out that the health and wellness community in Huntington has been around and active for a long time and that it is very important to the community at large.

“I think that a lot of the reputation that Huntington has for being unhealthy is just media grabs,” Dalton said. “I know that aspect is there, but I also have been very embedded in the other side of it. I went through a yoga teacher training program here over 10 years ago. I think of the Run Club and the biking community that we have here. The health and wellness community is honestly the reason I’ve stayed in Huntington for all these years.”

Building Trust

As Tulsi prepares for its anniversary celebration, it is clear that the store’s commitment to quality and to the community have made it the go-to spot for a diverse and growing customer base. With one of the area’s most unique grocery and supplement selections, Tulsi is well-positioned to be a health and wellness leader in the Huntington region for many years to come. Both Dalton and Lemon quickly credit the Huntington community for their sustained success. 

“I think we've built a lot of trust in the community, and Huntington really shows up for small businesses,” Dalton said. “We can't compete with any major chain, but we don't really want to. We're here because we wanted to offer something you couldn't find elsewhere, so you’re going to find a lot of stuff here at Tulsi that you’re just not going to find anywhere else in this area."

“Every business in The Market is a local business. It's a really fun, neat spot.” Lemon added. “Everybody in the area, we're all rooting for each other.”

Tulsi is located in The Market in downtown Huntington at 809 3rd Avenue. Follow them on Instagram  and check out the entire Tulsi photo gallery!