Locally rooted— since 1965.

In 1965, Richard Catlett opened Columbia Specialty Foods, not as a mere retail venture, but as a protest against the status quo. At a time when industrial agriculture was becoming the norm, Catlett envisioned a sanctuary for organic foods, medicinal herbs, and sustainable living in Mid-Missouri. He didn’t just sell a lifestyle; he lived it.

Catlett was a true radical. A pacifist, civil rights activist, and union organizer, he famously put his personal well-being on the line to protest the Vietnam War. This same spirit of defiance defined the shop. It was never a rigid corporate machine; it was a dynamic, values-driven hub for the community.

By partnering with local organic farming pioneers like Terry Durham and Rick Goodman, Catlett established the first reliable pipeline for organic produce in the region.

Because he rejected the standard “boss-and-worker” hierarchy in favor of a collaborative, fun environment, employees didn’t just show up for a paycheck. They stayed for the mission. Among them was Patty Clover.

Patty joined the team in the 1980s and found a work culture so distinct from anything in the corporate landscape that she couldn’t imagine leaving.

When Catlett was ready to pass the torch in 1991, Patty and her partner, Scott Nirmaier, stepped forward to protect the legacy they had helped build. They renamed the shop Clovers Natural Market and ensured that this Columbia-born institution remained in the hands of people who loved it most and understood its mission.

Over the next 30 years, Patty and Scott transformed the store from a hole-in-the-wall on the Business Loop into two bustling, full-service grocery stores our community relies on today.

While the square footage grew, the radical heart of the business remained unchanged.

For Patty and Scott, growth was never just about the bottom line — it was about deepening the shop’s roots and making organic, sustainable products more accessible in Mid-Missouri.

As they expanded local sourcing and introduced bulk foods, housewares, and clean body care, they leaned into their roles as educators. By building the staff’s collective expertise in natural remedies and holistic health, they turned Clovers into a trusted community resource for Columbians seeking ways to take charge of their own well-being.

Their success was rooted in their team. True to Catlett’s original vision, they treated employees as partners in the business, cultivating a workspace fueled by creative energy, trust, and respect.

The passionate, long-tenured staff you meet at our counters today is a testament to that people-first philosophy.

In January 2024, the Clovers community faced a profound loss with the passing of Patty Clover. For over three decades, Patty had been the heart of the store, embodying the grit and grace required to run a business with a conscience.

In April 2024, the torch was passed once again to the people who knew the mission best. Three longtime employees, with a combined 50 years of experience under Patty and Scott’s mentorship, stepped forward to become the new owners:

Laura Maguire Gossett
As a trained herbalist and health educator, Laura carries forward the store’s legacy as a wellness resource. Drawing on her years of experience managing staff operations and buying for the Broadway supplement section, she remains dedicated to ensuring every employee feels like an essential part of the Clovers mission. Today, she helps both her team and her customers navigate the noise of modern health trends with grounded, holistic education.

Noah Earle
Noah represents the shop’s deep connection to sustainable agriculture. A 25-year veteran of the store and its Broadway location’s former chief grocery buyer, he has long provided the community with products from his own Brush and Trouble Farm. Noah bridges the gap between restorative farming and the modern kitchen, ensuring our shelves meet both strict ethical and health standards as well as culinary demands of the moment. His passion for high-quality, specialized ingredients is the reason Clovers remains a destination for hard-to-find items.

Russ Baurichter
Russ provides the store’s resilient backbone, blending a background in community organizing with technical expertise. Whether he is spearheading the transition to curbside ordering, solving a register crisis, or drawing on his years as the Forum store’s bulk buyer, Russ ensures Clovers stays connected and adaptable in a changing world.

Today, we remain committed to being more than a place to buy groceries. We are a living example of how a business can be run with intention.

By lifting up employees, prioritizing ethical sourcing, pursuing deep knowledge instead of trends, and giving back to the Columbia community, we believe a business can and should be a force for good.

From 1965 to today, the name on the door has changed — but the spirit remains the same:

Radical. Local. Healthy.

That is the promise of Clovers Natural Market — your local health food store, then and now.