WHEAT RIDGE, Colo., April 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Natural Grocers will open its 19th store in the Denver metro area on May 19. The store, which will open at 8 a.m., is located at 4900 Kipling Street in Wheat Ridge.

To celebrate the opening, and in honor of the company's 60^th anniversary, the store will distribute mystery gift cards to the first 60 customers in line for the opening. Gift cards will be in the amount of $5, $10, $25, $50 and $100. Customers won't know the amount of their gift card until they check out. Natural Grocers will also give away t-shirts to all customers, while supplies last, on opening day.

Grand Opening Celebration

The opening of the Wheat Ridge store will kick-off with a series of free, grand-opening celebrations, including food tastings, cooking demonstrations and nutrition classes with nutrition experts. All activities will take place from noon to 4 p.m. on the following dates:

• Saturday, May 23: Block Party, Local Product Expo and Tasting Fair
• Saturday, May 30: Gluten-Free Tasting Expo and Health Fair
• Saturday, June 6: Spa Day Health Fair
• Saturday, June 13: Paleo and Primal Fair

Natural Grocers will provide the Wheat Ridge community with fresh produce that is exclusively USDA Certified Organic as well as other healthy, affordable organic and natural products. In its small, friendly environment, the store will feature a mix of national brands and locally-grown, raised and manufactured products from Colorado. Family-run Natural Grocers was built on the premise that "consumers should have access to affordable, high-quality foods and dietary supplements, along with nutrition knowledge to help support their own health."

Natural Grocers has 96 stores in 16 states, employing more than 2,000 people. As consumers increasingly seek out healthy, affordable shopping choices, Natural Grocers continues to expand its geographic footprint. The Wheat Ridge location is one of 18 Natural Grocers stores expected to open in fiscal year 2015.

For more information, visit the Wheat Ridge store website. Follow Natural Grocers on social media via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

About Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE: NGVC; NaturalGrocers.com) is a rapidly expanding specialty retailer of organic and natural groceries, body care and dietary supplements. The company offers a flexible, small-store format, affordable prices and free science-based nutrition education programs to help customers make informed health and nutrition choices. Natural Grocers has over 2,000 employees and operates more than 90 stores in 16 states. Founded in Colorado in 1955, the company is celebrating its 60^th anniversary in 2015.

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SOURCE Natural Grocers