CINCINNATI (WKRC) – Sherry Merrick opened up G & Shirley’s Health and Food Store in North Avondale back in 1977. She was known as a visionary, businesswoman and a champion for her community at a time when access to healthy, holistic living was far from equal.
Sherry Merrick opened up G & Shirley’s Health and Food Store in North Avondale back in 1977. She was known as a visionary, businesswoman and a champion for her community at a time when access to healthy, holistic living was far from equal. (WKRC)
Though Merrick passed away in 2002, her legacy lives among her six children. Merrick’s sixth child and only son, Hank Merrick, says his mother’s story inspired him to be a body sculptor and nutritionist. He opened LeanStyles Fitness Center, which has produced national champions and radically improved the health of Cincinnatians and clients throughout the U.S.
Sherry Merrick opened up G & Shirley’s Health and Food Store in North Avondale back in 1977. She was known as a visionary, businesswoman and a champion for her community at a time when access to healthy, holistic living was far from equal. (WKRC)
“We lived in Paddock Hills, and we used to run up the hills, and we used the hills to get us in good condition when I was a child,” Hank said. “I do that today with my clients and I always say, ‘let’s do the hills, let’s do the hills,’ that’s my mom talking to me.”
Sherry Merrick’s healthy lifestyle came after being diagnosed with diphtheria and liver failure, with a prognosis of just a few weeks to live, which forced her to make a choice.
“She wanted to be here for her children and through studying and applying alternative medicine she was able to extend her life 33 years and raise her family and she felt compelled to be able to share that with others,” added Hank.
There’s now an empty lot where G & Shirley’s Health and Food Store was originally located. There was an honorary street naming at the corner of Avondale and Reading, now called Shirley A. Merrick Way in 2024. The store is now located in College Hill at 5844 Hamilton Avenue.
Sherry Merrick opened up G & Shirley’s Health and Food Store in North Avondale back in 1977. She was known as a visionary, businesswoman and a champion for her community at a time when access to healthy, holistic living was far from equal. (WKRC)
Valynda Mitchell is Sherry Merrick’s fourth child who now owns and operates G & Shirley’s Health and Food Store.
Mitchell said, “It’s a joy in helping others. I can’t explain it.”
G & Shirley’s Health and Food Store continues to sell natural food supplements, vitamins, herbs, liquid extract, capsules, essential oils, natural creams, soaps and shampoos.
Sherry Merrick opened up G & Shirley’s Health and Food Store in North Avondale back in 1977. She was known as a visionary, businesswoman and a champion for her community at a time when access to healthy, holistic living was far from equal. (WKRC)
Mitchell mentioned that the G in the name stands for God, which she and her brother Hank said their mother believed in through and through.
“It also allows me to be a testimony of God’s grace and mercy and his love towards mankind,” Mitchell added. “It’s fortunate that most of the people that I meet that come in here—they love the Lord too.”
Sherry Merrick opened up G & Shirley’s Health and Food Store in North Avondale back in 1977. She was known as a visionary, businesswoman and a champion for her community at a time when access to healthy, holistic living was far from equal. (WKRC)
Both children said that their mother’s mission was always bigger than business, but about creating opportunities for generations to come by paving the way for healthier living and economic empowerment for Black people.
When asked what this generation should know about Sherry, Hank replied that there was someone many years ago in the community who thought that health was wealth.
“Two things that she used to say that always is stuck in my head, ‘time moves on whether you do something with it or you don’t so you might as well do something with it’ and then she’d say, ‘do what you have to do, to do what you want to do,’” said Valynda.
G & Shirley Health and Food Store will be 49-years-old in October.
