ATLANTA, GA - A first for Whole Foods Market, it entered a new market with not one, but two 365 store openings. Cutting the ribbons on the same day, the retailer opened its first Atlanta, GA, stores yesterday morning at 9 a.m.

“We’re excited to introduce the Decatur and Northside Buckhead communities to the Whole Foods Market 365 concept, offering the very best-quality food at low prices. We have taken all we have learned about combining convenience and customer experience and created what we believe are two of our most exciting stores,” said Jeff Turnas, President of Whole Foods Market 365.

The Atlanta stores are the eleventh and twelfth Whole Foods Market 365 locations in the country, opening on Church St. and Northside Parkway.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Whole Foods Market to serve more communities in Atlanta. Not only are we bringing high-quality products at great prices with the Decatur and Buckhead stores, but we’re also thrilled to be employing 200 people from the local communities between the two,” said Bobby Turner, President of Whole Foods Market’s South region.

As part of the Friends of Whole Foods Market program, each store will feature unique and locally-based in-store beverage and dining experiences. Through this program, the company said in a press release that it partners with outside chefs, culinary and lifestyle brands, to bring shoppers innovative in-store offerings. Sharing the retailer’s high-quality standards, Friends partners operate as independent shops within Whole Foods Market stores and have unique expertise in a cuisine, concept or product.

Examples of this include:

• The Decatur store will house the fourth location for homegrown Atlanta-based dtox juice with a menu of juices, smoothies, acai, matcha, and dragon fruit bowls, nut-based yogurt, plant-based salads, as well as detoxifying cleanses made with organic and local ingredients.
• Sublime Tree–another local Atlanta business–will open their second location in the Buckhead store with a focus on organic smoothies, cold-pressed juices, smoothie bowls and superfood eats.
• Coming in early 2019, both the Decatur and Buckhead stores will feature an onsite authentic Mexican cuisine-focused restaurant, Loteria Grill, from Chef Jimmy Shaw. The in-store eateries will serve as the first locations for the Los Angeles-based restaurant in the Atlanta area, offering a menu of appetizers, tacos, enchiladas, and a rotating array of seasonal specials; including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options, as well as a full coffee bar experience, beer, wine, and cocktails.
• Shoppers in the Decatur store will also experience Pour de Leon—a beverage, dining, and gathering venue with fun for all ages, including free classic arcade games, inspired by Atlanta's Ponce de Leon Avenue.

Each store will make eating well simple and convenient with a curated product selection, easy to shop aisles, everyday low prices and streamlined design. In-store features include affordable, high-quality produce, with over 200 organic options and convenient pre-cut vegetables like zucchini noodles and riced cauliflower will be available in “Veg Valley” to make healthy meal-prep quick and easy.

Grab-and-go hot and cold bars with fresh ingredients where shoppers can create their own salads and pick up ready-made wraps, sushi, Detroit-style square pizza by the slice, sandwiches, pastas, soups and breakfast tacos. They can also visit the sandwich counter for made-to-order options.

To celebrate joining the community, 5 percent of the net sales from each store on yesterday, Dec. 19, was set to benefit local nonprofits, Slow Food Atlanta in Decatur and Open Hand in Buckhead.

What more does Whole Foods’ 365 have in store? AndNowUKnow will continue to report on this and other retail growth.

Whole Foods 365