Malibu's Vitamin Barn, The "Soul Of This Town", Will Close

MALIBU, CA — Local businesses contribute to the health of a community, and Malibu’s Vitamin Barn did that in more ways than one.

The beloved Malibu Colony institution, which for 34 years has served up fresh and organic sandwiches, smoothies, juices, teas, oils, powders, proteins, and other nutritious goodness, has announced that it will close.

The Vitamin Barn has been located at the Malibu Colony Plaza for 27 years, but owner Gene Arnold has said that he can no longer afford to pay the $22,000/month rent.

Arnold told the Malibu Times that he’s been considering moving for 10 years after a big rent hike, but a mixture of COVID, the Woolsey Fire, and the new Whole Foods in short succession pushed him over the edge.

"Financially, this town is not equipped to have small stores," Arnold told the Times. "Even if the rent was half, you’re not going to see people do too well. There has to be an honest conversation as to the value of locations. I don’t want to stick around for that conversation.”

The store does not have a firm closing date, and will stay open until inventory runs out, which he estimates will only be for a month or so longer. Arnold will have to endure many sad goodbyes until then, something he told the Times is one of the saddest parts of his day. Numerous customers have stopped by, sometimes with tears in their eyes, to tell Arnold that the Vitamin Barn is the “soul of the town,” as one put it. They also praised Arnold for his friendly service and work in the community.

Arnold told the Malibu Surfside News that he plans to continue his other business California Natural, which offers immunity shots.

Until then, he plans to take a long vacation with his longtime employee Joe Grochalski that he’s dubbing “Gene and Joe’s weird adventure.”

“I’m successful if I walk out of town with some money in my pocket and no arrows in my rear end,” Arnold told the Surfside News.