Delivery Service PineMelon Is Closing the Store

The food world changed during the COVID pandemic. The rules of shopping and dining all switched, at least for a time. You couldn't eat out, so you ate much more at home. With shopping at the supermarket curtailed, the best alternative was often home delivery, from both restaurants and stores. But now, that time may have ended.

PineMelon, Denver's first online grocery delivery service, which Anna and Alex Lee started in 2022 with a commitment to sustainable agriculture and delivering farm-fresh local produce, just announced it is shutting down.

"For over three years, Anna and I have been committed to advancing the mission of PineMelon," said CEO Alex Lee in a statement. "And we're proud of what we and our team have achieved in connecting our community to Colorado's farmers, ranchers and producers. We remain passionate about the mission, and even in the absence of PineMelon, we hope we've inspired people to continue to choose, eat and support local."

According to the company's announcement, "PineMelon will be ceasing all business operations at the end of day May 11, 2025. At this time, we do not know if or when we will be able to resume operations."

At the company's launch, the founders said they were looking forward to a rosy future for their first PineMelon location in the United States. Denver was chosen because it was similar to CEO Lee’s native home of Almaty, Kazakhstan, in terms of size, proximity to the mountains, and active population with an appreciation for healthy food grown locally. Coloradans are also very educated, added company spokeswoman Sarah Young, “which we know comes into play when making better-for-you food choices and understanding how the food chain operates."
In 2024, PineMelon expanded into Boulder.

"We have strived to develop a sustainable business model that puts more money into the hands of local farmers, commits to cultivating a dedicated internal team instead of outsourcing to gig workers, and doesn’t require a subscription," the closing announcement notes.

"We are so grateful to the local farmers, ranchers and producers who have partnered with us over the years, every team member who has contributed to our mission, and most importantly, the customers who’ve taken a chance on a whole new way to shop for groceries. We may not have fully realized our vision, but we have spread the joy of eating local to tens of thousands of Coloradans, including many who had never tried locally crafted food before experiencing PineMelon. We hope that everyone who has enjoyed PineMelon will continue to find ways to support local."

In its statement, the company still expresses optimism for the future of fresh food — if not for PineMelon, then for others who can pick up the challenge: "We firmly believe that one day, hopefully in the near future, our vision for a local-first food economy will come to fruition, on the Front Range, across Colorado, and beyond. We’re proud of the work we’ve done to further this cause and wish the best to those carrying this vision forward."

This story has been updated to remove a reference to Kazakhstan; PineMelon has never had operations outside of Colorado and is separate from any of Alex Lee's other enterprises.