Mark began his journey into the natural food industry when offered a bowl of granola. Before that, he considered himself the king of junk food. He gradually became more health conscious over time. Mark was laid off from his corporate position and was wandering in what he calls ” the wilderness of unemployment.” A vision to own a natural food market was born out of that wilderness. Through a series of providential events, his good friend Mark Stayton, who owned Under The Sun Natural Foods in Paoli, PA, hired him to work there and learn the business from the ground up. After many encounters that encouraged his vision, he eventually encountered Mr. Bill Martindale, who owned Martindale’s store in Springfield, PA. Mr. Martindale offered Mark a position as Store Manager, which he accepted, lasting a period of a year until Mr. Martindale decided to retire and offered to sell Martindale’s Natural Market to Mark. Mark accepted the offer and invited his best friend Dale Reece to leave his corporate job and join him as a joint owner of Martindale’s Natural Market. Dale reluctantly accepted but has never looked back. In hindsight, both owners, without reservation, see God’s hand leading and opening and closing doors every step of the way. Mark considers that next to being chosen by Jesus the Messiah as His follower and student, is to have encountered a pioneer in the natural food industry, such as Bill Martindale. To be selected from all the more impressive and important titans of the industry to carry on the esteemed and respected name of Martindale, dating back to 1869, is quite an honor.

When Mark is not running the business remotely, he finds himself caring for his older best friend and brother in the faith, Dale, whose ill health keeps him from being active in the business. His competent and compassionate team has been doing more and more, freeing Mark up for this priority.

Dale was once part owner of a small group of ComputerLand retail stores and eagerly participating in the computer revolution. He helped executives grasp the time saving features of personal computers to manage their daily number crunching.

Mark has worked in the natural products industry since 1980. He was owner of Under the Sun Natural Foods in Paoli for 16 years before coming to the store in 1996.

He eventually became our Sales Manager in recognition of his superior knowledge of natural products, his understanding of nutritional supplements, and his ability to use his insights to assist customers with health concerns. In his current capacity as Co-owner and Supplements Director, he serves to curate the best of vitamins, herbs, and dietary supplements on the market. This ensures Martindale’s remains first in shopper’s minds when considering natural health solutions.

Tracy’s evolution from sporty Swarthmore teen to global traveler and wellness expert is genuinely inspiring. Her drive for excellence took her to Cornell University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. A love of adventure, travel and other cultures brought her to earn an MA in London, volunteer with the Peace Corps in Senegal, and study yoga in India and Thailand. Her love of helping others led her to learn and teach healing therapies in Phoenix and NYC. She later returned to the same yoga retreat center in Thailand to teach yoga and manage their wellness and detox programs. She even rescued her beautiful dog, Shanti—meaning “peace”—from the same retreat center’s beach.

Tracy has two nutrition certifications, which have supported her work at Martindale’s as first Supplements Assistant, then Produce Manager, now Store Manager. Outside of work, Tracy enjoys Philly sports (she’s run four marathons herself!), outdoor adventures in hiking, running and biking, reading literature and watching films. She has a daily practice of doing yoga, breathwork, meditation and walking Shanti, all of which help her to stay centered, prepared to serve and show up as her best self.

Mike has worn many hats throughout his time at Martindale’s. Starting many years ago as an employee in the produce department, he grew into other roles in the supplement and operations departments. In 2015 he accepted the position as the Grocery Department Manager.

All through his journey at Martindale’s, Mike’s passion for the natural products industry has continued to expand. He has a heart for the staff with whom he works and the customers whom he serves. His hope is for Martindale’s to continue to be a place of true healing by offering healthy foods and supplements and building genuine, positive relationships.

Requests from vendors are invited to contact Mike.

Before becoming an employee of Martindale’s in 1996, Joan remembers shopping here as a teenager with her father. Since 2005 she has led the staff as manager while working to provide a satisfying customer experience for our shoppers. Now no longer store manager, she serves as Financial Controller.

After a breast cancer battle in 2009, Joan was able to complete her Certified Nutritional Consultant coursework. This has both enriched her life and enabled her to better assist customers in their purchasing choices, especially those touched by cancer.

Tanya has recently relocated to the area after almost two decades abroad. She comes to Martindale’s with a long history of working within the natural food market in Europe. Over the years, her training in functional nutrition has helped her address the dietary and health issues for her family and clients. She has earned the distinctive title of FNTP. Tanya’s holistic approach is one of bio-individuality, understanding that being vitally balanced looks different for everyone.

In her free time, Tanya can be found adapting and creating recipes and taking courses to deepen her knowledge of holistic health.  When she is not learning, she often travels in the area visiting family and friends she has missed over the years.

Dan has a lengthy career in the natural and organic foods industry, which spans over 25 years.  As our Fridge & Freezer manager, he shares his dedication and passion for healthy living and eating with customers and fellow staff. Dan also enjoys supporting small local businesses and the many farms we do business with. As manager of this department, Dan ensures that dairy, meat, beverages, and frozen foods are stored properly for peak freshness.

Hailing from South Jersey, Dan is an avid road and gravel cyclist and belongs to various cycling clubs in the area, where he participates in both group and charity rides.  He also enjoys spending time with his son and watching him compete in high school sports such as basketball and soccer.

Carmen, originally from Philadelphia, moved to Delaware County about 12 years ago. She joined Martindale’s in 2015 where she started in the Bulk, Refrigeration and Freezer department then transferred to the Beauty and Body Care department.

Carmen enjoys riding with her husband, watching movies with her sons, and hanging out with friends. She absolutely loves it when her daughter comes to visit so she can “act like a kid again” when she plays with her grandchildren.

Domenique started learning about natural healing when her mother sought homeopathic remedies for Domenique’s brother’s autism; they also turned to homeopathy for healing their pets. She joined Martindale’s staff just before the 2020 pandemic hit, and she has stuck with Martindale’s through thick and thin ever since. She has gained experience in many departments, including cashier, bulk, produce, refrigeration, and now grocery.

Dominique enjoys knitting and sells many of her popular items here at Martindale’s; please check them out on the front display!

After taking some time off from Swarthmore College, where he is majoring in biology, Alex joined Martindale’s team as a produce clerk in June 2024. There, he really got to use his knowledge of general ecology to assist customers and deepen his understanding of the environment. He was quickly promoted to take on the responsibilities of Bulk Specialist, which utilized his organizational skills.

In his free time, he enjoys making art of different media: drawing, painting, digital art, and alto saxophone. He loves to read, meditate, explore nature, and spend time with loved ones in New York City when he can.

Karen loves the small-town feel of an old-fashioned, independently-owned store. She owned her neighborhood consignment store for 20 years. When the time came to move on, her connection with two of her customers who worked at Martindale’s led her to work here. Karen started in the Produce Department, where she quickly became an Administrative Assistant, and her love of connecting personally with customers led her to a Supervisor role.

Karen loves being outdoors, hiking in the mountains, camping, and spending time in the Adirondacks with family. She also enjoys reading a good book and cuddling up with her two senior chihuahuas.

Marilyn managed the Produce Department for years before becoming one of our floor Supervisors. She gladly helps customers find products in the aisle, get answers to questions on the phone, and complete purchases in a timely manner.

In 2008 she discovered that she has Celiac Disease which is an intolerance to gluten found in many foods. She is always more than happy to show our gluten-free customers the many items we offer that contain no gluten and share what she has learned. Her vegan lifestyle makes her a valuable resource.

Marilyn has a passion for customer service.

Brittany joined Martindale’s in 2022, bringing with her a passion for serving others. Her past health struggles led her to embrace a more holistic diet and find healing. First, as a cashier and now as a Supervisor at Martindale’s, she has been able to draw on this experience to help and encourage others on their journey to better health.

Brittany continually uplifts those around her, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for both our staff and customers. Her desire to go above and beyond in the service of others captures the heart of Martindale’s mission and vision.

Outside of work, Brittany is a loving mother to her beautiful daughter. She enjoys spending time reading and staying active.

Helen grew up in her family’s corner store, learning the importance of customer service and hard work from a young age. She vividly remembers her dad picking up health supplements and magazines from Martindale’s, which sparked her lifelong passion for health and wellness.

In her downtime, Helen enjoys spending time with her family – including her beloved fur babies. She also enjoys experimenting with kitchen recipes while baking delicious treats.

Nancy’s personal health and wellness journey began when a family member fell seriously ill. When conventional medicine only served to make things worse, she went looking for answers elsewhere. 

This step brought her into the world of natural and holistic health. To gain understanding and self-educate, she learned from professors, doctors, and instructors from all over the world. Her journey took her to career events, online seminars, and internet support groups. She devoured any information she could and became well-versed in wellness, including natural approaches to cancer, gut health, broken brain, body detox, liver and kidney wellness, and more. 

Armed with this knowledge, she coached her family member back to health. Moreover, she was able to share her education with family and friends and saw positive results. Nancy shares her knowledge with the community at Martindale’s, where she is sought after by repeat customers. She loves seeing the improvements in her shoppers’ lives and learning more about the solutions that work for them. 

“The best advice I’ve ever received, and the advice I continue to share with our customers, is to be your own advocate. Ask questions, be curious, and educate yourself because you know your body better than anyone,” Nancy says. She is proud to be a part of Martindale’s team where continuing education occurs daily.

Outside the store, Nancy enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, home rehab, sewing, painting, and furniture restoration. 

Nico brings a unique blend of personal experience and passion for holistic health to the Martindale’s Natural Market team. Having embarked on his holistic health journey in 2012 while residing in Santa Barbara, CA, Nico’s life took a transformative turn following his battle with cancer during adolescence. Struggling with sinus issues, headaches, and vertigo as lingering effects of his condition, Nico delved into the world of natural remedies, immersing himself in local supplement shops and independently studying herbal remedies and enzymatic therapy. Through his dedication and exploration, Nico not only conquered chronic sinusitis, sleep insomnia, anxiety, and fatigue but also alleviated symptoms of anemia and various other conditions. His triumphs fuel his passion for helping others achieve holistic wellness and live joyfully through sharing his wealth of knowledge and experiences.

Outside of his work at Martindale’s, Nico leads a multifaceted life filled with creativity and exploration. Running a small record label allows him to express his musical talents through producing, writing, and distributing music. Additionally, Nico finds solace and rejuvenation in physical activities such as hitting the gym and hiking trails and indulging his curiosity in ancient philosophy, Tartarian Empire archaeology, and Chinese medicine. His diverse interests reflect a deep-seated curiosity and an unwavering commitment to personal growth, enriching his life and those around him through his vibrant presence and holistic approach to well-being.