MCLEAN, VA - When I think of food halls, I think of community, of forks and knives clattering joyfully against dishes while hungry folks fill their bellies with delicious foods. Perhaps Whole Foods had this vision in mind as well, as it recently announced plans to open its very own food hall in its soon-to-open Tysons Corner market in Virginia.

According to a report from Washingtonian, this new store will be 70,000 square feet, with an entire first floor dedicated to the food hall. The “friends of Whole Foods” dining hall will offer shoppers the chance to dine on a variety of cuisines. Those in the mood for fresh pastas and other Italian dishes can head to Officina, a spinoff of The Wharf’s Italian trattoria that is fronted by Michelin-starred chef Nicholas Stefannelli. Others can head over to the Rappahannock Oyster Co. stall to shuck a few oysters and eat a couple of crab cakes. Fresh-pressed juices will be available at a Jrink juice bar.

The news source also reported that a heretofore unnamed pub will be on the second floor, for those in the market for food with a bite.

After Kroger recently expanded its Kitchen 1883 concept, it stands to reason that big-name retailers are breaking into the foodservice game in a big way. Will other concepts begin cropping up in the coming months? AndNowUKnow will keep its eyes peeled to the newswire for the latest.

Whole Foods Market