The Marinos at Mason & Greens.
When Justin and Anna Marino were making business plans for their zero-waste and bulk food store in Old Town, factoring in a global pandemic wasn’t a part those plans.
The story behind the store began long before their virtual opening on March 27: With two young kids, the Marinos noticed how much trash they were making and thought of ways they could cut back. They started by getting rid of paper towels.
“It sort of becomes this addictive thing. Once you start eliminating one thing, you’re like, ‘What else can I get rid of?’” Justin said.
They searched for durable, biodegradable or compostable products to use in place of the single-use plastics and papers that end up filling landfills. Zero-waste products were easy to find online, but there was the problem posed by pack-aging and shipping. The couple decided to create their own local source for people to purchase zero-waste products and bulk foods.
They leased 913 King St., conveniently located only two blocks away from their house, and named the store Mason & Greens. Mason refers to the popular mason jar, commonly used to preserve food. Greens refers to the fresh organic produce they planned to sell in the store. They were selective about the brands they carry, only choosing companies that align with their zero-waste mission. They sourced most of their products, all of which are plant-based, as locally as possible.
Mason & Greens
When news about the coronavirus began to spread, the Marinos knew they would have to cancel their big grand opening event.
“It shifted everything to online. I was putting the online store on the back burner but as soon as we realized that people weren’t going to be coming into the store, it was a mad dash to get everything on the website,” Anna said. With the help of an intern from The Field School in the District, they were able to take pictures and put 300 products onto the website in two weeks.
The coronavirus also affected their ability to get fresh produce for their store as the demand for food went up. Even so, they were able to offer a lot of other products to grateful customers including metal food containers, reusable produce bags, shampoo and conditioner bars, bath bombs, beauty products, bulk personal products and cleaners. The coronavirus affected which products sold the most. Reusable Swedish sponge cloths were popular items as paper goods became scarce and people were cleaning more.
In the bulk food section of the store, they stocked organic beans, pastas, flours, nuts, matcha and cacao. They work with a local baker who makes vegan and gluten free cookies and other baked goods, as well.
At the end of April, the store began offering shopping by appointment, and they were overwhelmed by the positive support they received from the community.
At a time when most businesses were struggling, Mason & Greens was able to pay rent and hire a full staff.
The Marinos continue to plan for life after quarantine with ideas for future store offerings like kombucha making, frozen produce and a play area for kids. They’ve even talked about the possibility of a second store in the region. The second floor of the building was lovingly converted into Alexandria’s first eco-conscience Airbnb, ready for future guests.
Although opening during a global pandemic was far from their first choice, the Marinos recognized it added an urgency to their message of healthy and earth-friendly living.
