Essence of Health reopens under new ownership

DULUTH — Essence of Health, a natural wellness and nutritional supplement store, recently reopened under new ownership.

Located at 909 W. Central Entrance, Essence of Health briefly closed last year after two decades when the previous owner, Sharon Szukis, retired. Kara Jensen, previously a partner in Natreum, a line of CBD and THC wellness retailers in Minneapolis, then bought the store.

"I decided to part ways to focus on this because the wellness industry as a whole is more what I feel naturally inclined to at this point," Jensen said.

Essence of Health is now doing business under Jensen's Kuressence brand. Eventually, Jensen would like to incorporate her knowledge of cannabinoids with other natural wellness supplements to formulate her own products.

A Central High School graduate, Jensen went on to study political science and pre-law at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Although her background is in politics and marketing, Jensen became interested in natural remedies after her grandmother's diagnosis of severe dementia and anxiety.

"She had severe confusion along with her dementia," Jensen said. "In Europe, they were giving cannabinoids (cannabis-based products) to people that had dementia to help them relax. So I was interested in all the medicinal qualities in that regard because I found that pharmaceuticals had so many negative side effects."

According to Jensen, Szukis was instrumental in providing natural remedies for sleep and comfort during the twilight of her grandmother's life.

When Jensen discovered the business of her family friend was for sale, her initial interest was to take over some of Szukis' best-selling products and turn them into a CBD wellness shop. However, the focus quickly changed.

"Sharon's old customers were coming in and asking for their products," Jensen said. "I would be doing a disservice to this community by shutting that part of the store off."

A grand reopening was held last spring following the shop's remodel and expansion. Since reopening, Szukis returned to assist at the store once a week.

"She's really well-respected in this community, and I love that she's actually come back," Jensen said. "She started missing her customers."

Certified holistic nutritionist and functional nutrition counselor Deserie Tommaro recently joined the Essence of Health team. Tommaro was co-owner of Clove Health & Wellness, formerly known as Betty Lou's Health Foods for 29 years, for about a year.

Although business was doing well at Clove, Tommaro decided to close the shop on Mountain Shadow Drive in July to focus on partnering with Essence of Health. Drawn to a career in natural wellness because of personal health issues, Tommaro also offers personal consultation to individual clients through her business, Healing from Within.

Essence of Health prides itself on supporting local producers. Wisconsin-based YouBetcha Herbs & Heirlooms cannabis products from High Point Acres organic hemp farm can be found on the shelves, as well as Duluth's Anahata Herbals tea blends.

"We can't legally give medical advice," Jensen said. "At the end of the day, people do need to consult with their doctor about what they're taking."