Huckleberry Farms closing shop

Huckleberry Farms, a natural health foods store at Nuuanu Shopping Plaza, is closing after 24 years in business.

"It's a combination of the economic downturn and other factors," said owner Pete Pascua.

Walgreen Co. of Deerfield, Ill., bought the leasehold interest to the plaza last year and plans to redevelop the site and eventually open a store, although no specific timeline has been set.

Huckleberry Farms has agreed to the termination of its lease.

A total of about 25 full- and part-time employees will lose their jobs at the store, although some have found other jobs, according to Pascua.

Customers absorbed the news with sadness, some even breaking into tears, according to Pascua. Many longtime customers are used to being greeted on a first-name basis by the store's employees.

"I am very sad and shocked," said Karen Walker of Kailua, who was stopping in to pick up a few items when she learned the news.

Walker has been a regular for three years and comes in for salads and produce, as well as oatcakes.

"The people here are great," she said.