Whole Health owner set to open new food store

For those wanting one-stop shopping for foods such as tofu, rice milk and sugar-free almond and carob cookies, or just a smoothie to go, Scott Pace will open a health food store in Kelly Plaza on South National April 1 and will move his weight-loss center, Whole Health, to the same location.

"Whole Health Natural Foods will carry everything anyone could possibly want in a health food store. We'll carry vitamins to supplements to food to ... you name it. We'll also have a juice and smoothie bar there, too," Pace said.

Pace said the move will more than double the business' size. The weight-loss center and its offices now occupy space in Glenstone Square, where Pace also sells a limited amount of food products, supplements and vitamins.

Pace said his decision to open the store was based on the fact that many of his clients are regular customers of local health food stores. He said he wanted to be able to provide those customers with the nutritional products they need for their weight-loss program at a discount. He said he is still looking for employees to staff the new store.

Pace founded Whole Health nearly three years ago after losing 117 pounds on a weight-loss plan he developed himself. A one-time real estate broker, Pace started Whole Health after assisting and coaching others with weight loss and physical fitness following his success. He has a behavioral science degree from Drury University and seven years of extensive research in diet and nutrition.

Pace said his weight-loss program combines theories on diet and nutrition from the 1920s to the present.

"We avoid any kind of fad diet approach, such as the high-protein, no-carbohydrate diets, or high-carb diets. We don't do anything that's going to destroy the body or hurt it in any way," Pace said.

Patty Flanigan of Corner Printing is an advocate of organically grown and natural food, and said another health food store would be a welcome addition here, especially one with a juice bar.

"Grocery stores in general are also beginning to incorporate natural foods and healthier foods, so I think another health food store in Springfield would offer more options and convenience ... the more that we have, the better," Flanigan said.