Chattanooga Times Free Press File Photo
The parking lot of Two North Shore will be set up for a party Saturday to celebrate Greenlife Grocery's 10th year in business.

When Greenlife Grocery opened in Riverview 10 years ago, owner Chuck Pruett was a little concerned about introducing an organic grocery to the Scenic City on such a large scale.

"It was something I was excited about, but on the other side, I was nervous because I'd put everything I ever had into it, including mortgaging my house," he said.

Over the last decade, Chattanoogans have bought into the idea of organic food, though it took a couple of years to catch on, Pruett said.

"The first three years were tough," he said. Nonethless, the company opened a larger store in Asheville, N.C., in 2004. "Once we got that one open, the Chattanooga store started doing well."

So well, in fact, Pruett decided Chattanooga needed a store like Asheville's. In 2007, the city's new Greenlife debuted on Manufacturers Road. At 27,000 square feet, it was more than triple the size of the original location.

The new location was part of a larger shopping destination, Two North Shore, filled with additional retail stores. It's here that a community appreciation celebration will be held Saturday in honor of Greenlife's 10th birthday.

Susan Baker, Greenlife's media marketing coordinator, said it will be a day full of activities for the entire family, with kids activities and lots of food based on a Lousiana Creole theme with po' boys for sale in the parking lot, live jazz from musician Joy Devlin and vendors throughout the store offering demonstrations and giveaways.

"People have really embraced organic, and the more they learn about food and where it comes from and how it's grown, it's come full circle," Pruett said. "With organic being worldwide now, people are thinking it's important to support locally grown organic produce."

IF YOU GO

* What: 10-year anniversary party.

* When: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.

* Where: Greenlife Grocery, 301 Manufacturers Road.

* Admission: Free.

* Phone: 702-7300.

* Web site: www.greenlifegrocery.c