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Sunny Bridge Natural Foods marks 15 years
Following a stint at the now-closed Shadyside Natural Foods, Gina Snyder has been at the helm of Sunny Bridge since its opening in 2002.
Executive chef Jason Kerstetter runs the cafe, which features vegan and gluten-free items.
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Not all parents take the fast-food route for feeding their children. “What I’m seeing is the younger crowd is coming in with the young kids,” Gina Snyder, owner of Sunny Bridge Natural Foods and Café in Peters Township, has observed. “That means they’re becoming aware. They want to raise their families that way.”
Awareness of how to eat healthfully has grown considerably among more knowledgeable Americans since Snyder opened Sunny Bridge 15 years ago, but a groundswell of interest was in place back in 2002.
“When we opened, people were ready,” she recalls. “I was very grateful for the customers who supported us at the time.”
Snyder got her start in the business working for since-closed Shadyside Natural Foods, and when she decided to take a similar concept to the South Hills, general manager Rob Baran helped her considerably in making contacts and providing direction as to how to stock the shelves. She soon started receiving more input in that regard.
“Customers started to request things, and then we looked into them,” she says. “We put our foot in the water, and it worked.”
The practice continues at Sunny Bridge. “If a customer makes a suggestion, we look into it to see if it would be a good fit,” Snyder says. “And usually, if one person is asking for it, other people are looking for it.”
The products the store carries must meet certain criteria, such as all-natural or organically grown, and free of artificial colors, preservatives, scents or flavorings. That extends beyond food to dietary supplements, beauty and personal care products, and household cleaning supplies.
Part of the Sunny Bridge experience is a café, with executive chef Jason Kerstetter striving to meet customers’ various dietary needs and preferences.
“He’s able to go from vegan to the meat-eater, no problem,” Snyder says. “Usually, there’s something for everybody on the menu, even with the specials.”
Sunny Bridge also has a bakery, under the direction of Nastassja Santana, with products carrying gluten-free, all-natural ingredients, “down to the food colors,” Snyder explains. “They make the pizza crusts and the wraps and the breads that the café uses in their meals, so that works out pretty well.”
One of her points of emphasis is education, through such means as hosting classes, distributing informational literature and “The Sunny Spot” radio show, which airs from 1-2 p.m. Tuesdays on 620 WKHB-AM.
“The main thing is having a great staff,” Snyder said. “They are available to answer almost any question people might have.”
Sunny Bridge will be celebrating its 15th anniversary March 3-4 with in-store festivities, vendor demos, a special menu and more.
For more information, visit sunnybridgenaturalfoods.com.