Rivertowns Biz Snippets: 'Food For Thought's' Organic Chocolate, Pet Foods and Stellar Service

In honor of its 40th anniversary this spring, Hastings' recently got a facelift—outside the store, that is. Everything on the inside is just as organic, reasonably-priced and healthful as it has been since 1972.

Owner Dwight Burke and his sister Tracy Burke-Pearson are extremely proud of the merchandise they sell inside their tiny-but-tightly-packed Spring Street shop.

From top-of-the line vitamins and lotions to gluten-free pancake mixes and organic pet food, they have everything a health nut could ever crave. 

Even the health nuts' kids don't have to feel like they're being dragged (unwillingly) down the road to bodily purification, with Food for Thoughts' offerings like: kid-friendly, animal-shaped, gluten-free pastas and Annie's organic mac & cheese. (There are also lots of relatively healthful snack foods and munchies for the mindful...who also crave something in the genre of Oreo cookies once in a while.)

Besides vitamins, Food For Thought carries homeopathic remedies, medicinal teas and a selection of energy bars that could get Lance Armstrong through another Tour de France. 

Burke-Pearson is particularly excited about one of their newest offerings: 70 percent cocoa Green & Black European chocolate bars—in lots of different varieties. (Her favorite is the cherry.)

Her brother is happy to be able to serve the community in a manner as organic as the products he sells.

"If our bananas become overripe, we give them to Helene (Godin) of  By the Way Bakery to use in her baked goods," he said. "In return, we get some of her goodies in return."

Burke is also excited about his collaboration with Comfort Reataurant, selling his organic tofu for their vegetarian dishes. 

"Really, though, if you had to highlight one thing about this store, it's our customer service," Burke said. "We're small; we know our customers by name. And the prices are competitive with the bigger chain stores." 

Rivertowns Biz Snippets highlights great products you can get at Hastings, Dobbs Ferry and Irvington establishments.  Have an idea for a snippet?  Upload it as an