John Mastel
On June 2, John James Mastel Sr., founder of independent natural retailer Mastel’s Health Foods in Saint Paul, MN, died in Roseville, MN at age 89 from Alzheimer’s disease. Mastel’s was Vitamin Retailer’s Retailer of the Year in 2021.
Mastel was born on April 14, 1937 in Trail City, SD and as a child suffered from constant allergies and illnesses. In March 1957, he enlisted in a four-year program at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas but was medically disqualified due to stomach ulcers. He returned to Minnesota and began working for the Minnesota State Highway Department (now MNDOT) as a technician, inspector and methods analyst.
In 1966, Mastel suffered serious illness and was hospitalized for 54 days. Disillusioned by conventional medicine, he decided to learn about natural healing systems, supplements, plants and nutrition. In 1968, he opened Mastel’s Health Foods. By the 1970s he was drawing people from a 40-mile radius, and in 1977, he quit his job to work at the store full-time. The store also moved a mile away to its current location at 1526 St. Clair Ave.
“He had an inquisitive mind, a thirst for knowledge, and never stopped learning,” said Carolyn Rush, inventory control specialist at Mastel’s. Rush was previously the purchasing manager and worked side-by-side with Mastel.
Mastel’s started to receive a lot of media attention beginning in the 1990s. In 1998, journalist and former White House Press Secretary Bill Moyers visited the store on Christmas Eve. In 1999, Steve Carell spent more than four hours in the store to film The Daily Show comedy segment “Echinacea Dealers.”
Mastel retired from day-to-day management of his store in 2000 and moved to his 8.5-acre farm in Afton, MN, where he spent much of his time growing fruit trees. In 2023, after 55 years, he sold the store to long-time managers, Alina Hornfeldt and Lauren Gaffney, who are now co-owners.
Mastel loved being in his store’s garden most of all, the staff recalled. Much of his spare time outside the store or garden was taken up by softball and bowling—playing well into his 70s. He also had a passion for “experimenting” with hybridizing plants such as attempting to grow thornless raspberries and a tomato that, when cut, would reveal the logo of a major hotel chain.
John Mastel in 1989
Hornfeldt described him as “fiercely independent and could be stubborn at times, but he was full of care and compassion for his customers and what ailed them.” He also loved to tell stories about his upbringing in South Dakota.
“Although John Mastel retired many years ago, the values he built into Mastel’s continue to guide us every day. His vision created far more than a health food store; he created a trusted community resource where people could find education, support, and products to help them live healthier lives. As current owners, we see ourselves as caretakers of that legacy. While the wellness industry has changed dramatically since John founded the business, the principles that made Mastel’s successful remain the same: putting customers first, providing knowledgeable guidance, and maintaining a genuine commitment to health and wellness,” Hornfeldt said.
“The best way we can honor John’s legacy is by continuing to serve our community with the same spirit of integrity, curiosity, and care that he established more than 55 years ago. We will continue to embrace innovation and new developments in wellness while remaining true to the personal service and trusted relationships that have always been at the heart of Mastel’s. We are grateful for the foundation John built and for the opportunity to carry it forward for future generations. His influence remains woven into the fabric of Mastel’s, and we are committed to ensuring that his vision continues to thrive,” Hornfeldt added.
Memorial services are planned for June 27 at North Heights Church in Arden Hills, MN followed by a burial at Roselawn Cemetery in Roseville.
For more information, visit www.mastels.com.
