The DuBois Health Food Center storefront in north Carson City on May 1, 2024.
Photo by Scott Neuffer.
Before it was cool, the late Phil DuBois took a chance on health foods and vitamins, creating what would become a family fixture in Carson City. The year was 1964, and DuBois opened the first iteration of DuBois Health Food Center in the closet of his massage shop on Corbett Street, according to spouse Judy DuBois.
Over the decades, the shop changed locations – expanded in square footage – but the family maintained ownership.
On May 1, DuBois Health Food Center reached a milestone of 60 years of business.
“It means quite a bit to us,” Judy DuBois told the Appeal. “The reason my husband opened that store, and the reason he kept it going, was he felt it was here for the people of Carson City. Carson City was a great town to him.”
Phil DuBois passed away in 2017 at age 85. Judy ran the store following his death, but this year, some medical issues surfaced that made managing the store difficult. Judy herself is 81.
Fortunately, Justin Justus, the DuBois’ grandson, stepped in to help with operations. On May 1, Justus’ own 2-year-old daughter, Ofelia, was following her father around the store and, perhaps unbeknownst to her, was representing four generations of the DuBois business.
“My mom worked here when I was born,” said Justin Justus. “I basically grew up in the store.”
There was no anniversary party, but customers roamed the aisles making purchases. The store offers vitamins, herbs, bulk grains and flours, homeopathic products and other items with an emphasis on local vendors.
Justus, a 1999 Carson grad, said the business lost some customers when it moved from East William Street to its current location on North Carson Street in 2021. He said people thought the store had been sold when it had simply moved north.
Justus also said distribution for some products has been tougher in recent years due to prioritization of large chain stores over mom-and-pop shops. However, he wasn’t worried when asked about a Sprouts store planned for the northeast side of town.
“I doubt they will be able to keep up with our herbs and vitamins,” he said.
DuBois Health Food Center is located at 1851 N. Carson St., just south of Butler Meats. The store is open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.
For information, call 775-882-2451.