EMERYVILLE, Calif., 2014-12-9 — /EPR Retail News/ — Whole Foods Market opens its new 35,000 square-foot San Jose store today at 777 The Alameda (at Stockton). San Jose City Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio and other community stakeholders join store and regional leaders to host a bread-breaking ceremony at 9:45 a.m. Doors open at 10 a.m.
Opening day programming also includes music by Mark Russo and the Classy Cats; vendors sampling local foods (Nona Lim, Greenlee’s Bakery, Redwood Hill Farm, Allegro Coffee Roasters and many more); and a live remote broadcast by Mix 106.5 (KEZR-FM, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.).
To celebrate the opening and in honor of the concurrent holiday season, the store is hosting, “The Great Holiday Giveaway.” Each day from Dec. 11-24, the store will give away a gift valued between $100 and $200. Prizes range from a case of Dungeness crab to a basket of eco-friendly toys and a Hanukkah meal for four. Customer can visit thegreatholidaygiveaway.com daily from Dec. 11-24 to find out what each day’s prize is.
This is the second Whole Foods Market location in San Jose, and the 42nd in Northern California. The store brings an estimated 200 new jobs to San Jose. Prior to opening, Whole Foods Market San Jose hosted a “likes for donations” campaign on Facebook and raised more than $1,200 for the Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden.
In design, the store reflects the warehouse/industrial style of downtown San Jose. The brick and corrugated metal walls are an homage to the Falstaff Brewery, which used to operate near the site. Green building features include locally manufactured, reclaimed, recycled and low- to non-emitting materials used in construction; high-recycled content from nearby Fireclay Tile, and a Combined Heat & Power system that will allow the store to operate up to 90 percent off the public grid. Additionally, Whole Foods Market planted 38 new trees in the parking lot and plaza, upgraded street lights to energy-efficient fixtures, planted native grasses to support local habitat, and installed low-water plantings and drip irrigation to reduce water use.
Highlights of the new store include:
Mission Creek Brewing Company – Whole Foods Market’s first on-site brewery in California features 19 craft beers on tap; three taps are reserved for house brews and the majority of the remainder go to local brewers like Hermitage Brewing Company and Santa Clara Valley Brewing. There are also two taps for wine. Mission Creek’s Brew master is Guy Cameron, who formerly worked for Russian River Brewing Company. The Mission Creek tap room offers seating for 55 guests. This is the second on-site brewery for the company; the first opened at the Post Oak store in Houston last month.
Juice and Coffee Bar – On the ground floor of the brewery building, shoppers can stop by a juice and coffee bar that opens at 6 a.m. daily. Fresh squeezed juices and smoothies are available alongside a selection of grab-and-go breakfast items. Allegro Coffee Company offers signature coffee and espresso blends.
Berliners and Artisan Bakery – A company first for Whole Foods Market San Jose, the store’s bakery will offer custom “Berliners,” or hand-injected filled doughnuts. Customers can choose to have their fresh-fried doughnut filled with lemon curd, chocolate, caramel or other flavors; then dusted with powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar and drizzled with chocolate or caramel. It is a decadent treat for San Jose’s foodie community. In addition, the bakery offers fresh bread, pastries, and gluten free and vegan treats.
Produce – The new “Responsibly Grown” produce rating system assesses growing practices that impact human health and the environment. The system labels fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers as “good,” “better,” or “best” to help shoppers make more informed choices; it also prohibits some of the most hazardous pesticides/neurotoxins still allowed in agriculture.
A wide selection of organic items, with pre-cut fruit and vegetables “made right here” in store as well as a variety of fresh squeezed juices. Customers can also choose bananas, mangoes, peppers, melons and pineapples with the Whole Trade seal, which indicates Whole Foods Market’s commitment to offering the highest quality fairly traded goods that ensure farm workers are treated ethically and fairly, and are produced using environmentally friendly growing practices.
Meat – Full-service butcher counter offering local meats and meat products including Panorama organic 100 percent grass-fed beef; Country Natural pasture-raised, grain finished beef from cattle that have never been in a feedlot; Diestel Ranch turkeys (Non-GMO Project Verified); Non-GMO-fed, organic chickens from Mary’s (Fresno); and whole-meat frozen chicken nuggets and wings from Whole Foods Market Local Producer Loan recipient Hip Chick Farms (Sebastopol). Also available will be grab-and-go seasoned and marinated meats, and house-made sausages.
The store offers the best-tasting, freshest and highest-quality meat available that meets the company’s strict quality standards, which include that animals are raised on a vegetarian diet without being administered antibiotics or added growth hormones.* All beef, pork, chicken and turkey carried in the fresh and pre-packaged cases at all Whole Foods Market stores in the U.S. comes from farms that are rated according to Global Animal Partnership’s 5-Step™ Animal Welfare Rating program.
Seafood – An array of fresh and frozen selections and all the marinades, sauces, seasonings and herbs to complete a meal with seafood as the centerpiece. All of Whole Foods Market’s wild-caught seafood comes from fisheries certified by the Marine Stewardship Council or is rated green or yellow by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program. Farm-raised seafood is sold under the “Responsibly Farmed” logo, which ensures farm operations have minimal impact on the ecosystem and do not use additives or antibiotics in feed.
Pizza Oven and Prepared Foods – State-of-the-art brick pizza oven with specialty pies made daily like the “Alpine Pig,” “Forest Fungi,” and “Pesto Potato.” Behind the pizza counter, customers will find Matthew Driscoll, an award-winning dough-thrower, pizza chef and member of the U.S. Pizza Team. Whole Foods Market’s store chefs make fresh dishes for the hot bar daily, including a selection of Paleo and health-focused entrees.
The store will also offer Whole Foods Market’s regular sandwich station, and an extensive salad bar featuring organic ingredients. Healthful and tasty lunch selections, including a variety of nutrient-rich items like quinoa, brown rice and kale, will also be available daily.
Whole Body – Whole Body offers Whole Foods Market’s signature lineup of natural and organic premium face, body and skin care products plus supplements, including immune support for the upcoming cold and flu season. In the lifestyle section, customers can find organic apparel and accessories from businesses committed to sustainability.
Grocery – Featuring Whole Foods Market’s mix of value and special occasion items. Customers can choose from hundreds of 365 Everyday Value™ products, locally made packaged goods, frozen meals, “Whole Paws” pet food products, and home and cleaning products bearing the Eco-Scale™ label indicating environmental impact. Plus more than 240 bulk products including grains, flours, nuts, spices and nut butters.
Specialty – Beer and Wine – A focus on local and craft beers, as well as a wide selection of California wines. In the cheese department, customers can order custom-cut cheeses, and sampling is encouraged. Cheeses come from local (Belfiore, Cowgirl Creamery) and global sources, and an on-staff Certified Cheese Professional guides customers through flavor profiles, building cheese plates and wine pairings. The olive bar includes a dozen olive choices plus a handful of antipasti. Specialty chocolates, nuts, jams and other novelties round out the department.
Store Tours – Shopping tours tailored to special diets, such as gluten-free living, and store tours for parents, as well as tours focused on how to shop on a budget, are available. Private tours can be arranged by request.
Whole Foods Market Community Giving Days – Whole Foods Market San Jose will kick off a “Week of Giving” from Dec. 15-19, and will have five (5) one-percent days that will benefit:
12/15: Christmas in the Park
12/16: Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden
12/17: Billy DeFrank Center
12/18: Guadalupe River Park Conservancy
12/19: Children’s Discovery Museum
Store Dining and Wi-Fi – Free Wi-Fi throughout the store; community gathering and dining space in the brewery building, tap room and breezeway.
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations – High-efficiency NRG eVgo fast charging stations and standard charging stations available.
Holiday orders – Order holiday meals, including main courses (turkeys, field roast, brisket and more), prepared sides, appetizers and desserts, at shop.wholefoodsmarket.com.
Store Information
Whole Foods Market San Jose on The Alameda
777 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126
Tel. 408-207-1127
Coffee/Juice Bar: 6 a.m.-10 p.m., Store 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. daily. Tap Room hours may extend to accommodate SAP Center events as needed.
Store Team Leader: Jeff Giardinelli
Marketing & Community Relations Liaison: Michelle Hohmeier
Website: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/sanjose
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wfmsanjose
Instagram: @wholefoodsmarketsanjose
Twitter: @wholefoodsnorca
*Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones in raising pork and poultry.
###
About Whole Foods Market®
Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (wholefoodsmarket.com, NASDAQ: WFM), is the leading natural and organic food retailer. As America’s first national certified organic grocer, Whole Foods Market was named “America’s Healthiest Grocery Store” by Health magazine. The company’s motto, “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet”™ captures its mission to ensure customer satisfaction and health, Team Member excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement. Thanks to the company’s more than 75,000 Team Members, Whole Foods Market has been ranked as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America by FORTUNE magazine for 17 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2014, the company had sales of more than $13 billion and currently has nearly 400 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
###