Whole Foods Market Opens Flagship 500th Store in Midtown Atlanta

 Whole Foods Market opens the doors to its 500^th store location this Friday, April 5 at 7 a.m. in Midtown Atlanta. Located at 22 14th Street NW in Related Group’s Icon Midtown residential development, the new 70,000 square-foot, multi-level flagship store will be a community gathering destination featuring four fast-casual eateries and more than 1,500 local items from 250 suppliers, many new to Whole Foods Market.

“Whole Foods Market Midtown will be a true gathering space for the community,” said Bobby Turner, President of the South Region at Whole Foods Market. “We worked hard to create a place that offers our neighbors a destination to get together, enjoy great food and connect with members of the local community through a variety of culinary, wellness and cultural events. We’re proud that our new South Region flagship has the honor of opening as Whole Foods Market’s 500^th store, marking an incredible milestone for the company.”  

Fast-Casual Eateries

Located across four floors, shoppers will have a food hall experience with four unique fast-casual eateries offering exclusive food menus, curated selections of locally sourced beer and wine as well as Wi-Fi:

• Canopy Court: Located on rooftop terrace with skyline views, stadium seating, games and TVs, Canopy Court will feature a food truck serving an assortment of wines, local beers and a rotating food menu. Hours will vary seasonally.
• 14th Street Bar: 14th Street Bar will offer a selection of wines, local beers and soft drinks. It includes a private outdoor dining balcony overlooking 14th Street and West Peachtree Street with seating for 28 customers and indoor seating for 111 customers. There’s also a screened porch with comfortable seating and heaters for colder days. Open from 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. daily.
• Capital Commons: As a place where friends and neighbors can gather, this cozy full-service Allegro coffee and espresso bar  named Capital Commons is a tribute to its location in the state’s capital. With wine, local beers, baked goods – including handmade biscuits from Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit – sandwiches and more, Capital Commons will have indoor seating for 60 customers. Open from 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. daily.
• Farm Burger: Part of the Friends of Whole Foods Market program, which partners with outside culinary and lifestyle brands for residence inside Whole Foods Market stores to bring shoppers innovative experiences, Farm Burger’s menu focuses on 100 percent locally sourced grass-fed, grass-finished beef burgers. Additional offerings include chicken burgers, vegan options, farm-fresh salads, a kids’ menu and more. The menu also includes a selection of beers on tap. Coming in early summer 2019 with daily operating hours of 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Farm Burger will have indoor seating for 86 customers and outdoor seating for 28 customers.

Store Features & Local Product Highlights

With a selection of locally sourced options, grab-and-go prepared foods and natural and organic grocery items, all food at Whole Foods Market must meet the company’s rigorous quality standards, which prohibit hydrogenated fats, high-fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners. Special features include:

• Hot and cold prepared food bars featuring seasonal dishes and options for special diets, department offers build-your-own avocado toast and lettuce wrap bars, a skillet bar offering items such as fried chicken, wings and fried fish, as well as a salad bar, soup wells, self-serve pizza, sushi from Genji, a sandwich station with made-to-order sandwiches, rotisserie chickens, plant-focused grain bowls and seasonally rotating culinary popup stations
• Expansive selection of more than 100 beers and 1,000 wines, including offerings from 44 local producers
• 150 bins of bulk scoop items including candy, beans, grains, dried herbs and spices,featuring local supplier Pure Bliss Organics granola selections
• Atlanta-based dtox juice bar offering made-to-order smoothies, juice shots, cold-pressed blends and açaí bowls
• European-inspired floral shop offering unique variety of single stem flowers, roses exclusive to Whole Foods Market and custom floral arrangements for everyday pieces, weddings and special events
• Fresh produce department with seasonal fruits and vegetables, selections from regional growers and an in-store “fruit and vegetable butcher,” offering cut-to-order fruits and vegetables while customers shop
• Beauty and body care department featuring a range of locally made products as well as in-store Pacha Soap Co. boutique offering natural bath products

Curated exclusively for the Midtown Atlanta store, local offerings include banana pudding from Malvi Mallow, Midtown Magic blend from Beautiful Briny Sea, Peach Praline from King of Pops, four specialty blends from BRASH Coffee Roasters as well as Cucumber Lemonade from Arden’s Garden. Meat, seafood, grocery and bakery departments round out the in-store experience to satisfy and delight customers.
Along with the neighborhood’s newest shopping and dining experience, Whole Foods Market Midtown will also host weekly culinary, health and wellness and social community events, including open mic nights for local musicians and comedians, meet-the-maker events with owners and artisans behind the products sold in-store, a monthly artist gallery night featuring local artists and their work, rooftop fitness including Zumba, yoga and cycling, as well as The Chef’s Table – an exclusive event with one-on-one cooking experiences alongside local chefs and farmers.

Opening Celebrations

Kicking off at 6:00 a.m., opening day celebrations include free coffee from a local supplier, pastries and live music. The first 500 customers in line when the doors open at 7 a.m. will receive a token, valid for one Whole Foods Market Midtown canvas tote bag with purchase. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the first 150 customers will receive a gift card valued between $5 and $100. From 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. on opening day, customers can cycle for a nonprofit. Spin bikes will be set up on the sidewalk in front of the store, and for every 5 minutes someone spins, Whole Foods Market will donate $1 to the Center for Puppetry Arts. Throughout the day, there will be live music and product sampling inside the store, including a meet-the-maker event featuring local suppliers from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

To celebrate joining the community, five percent of the store’s net sales on Thursday, April 18 will be donated to Food Well Alliance, supporting local urban agriculture in Atlanta.    

Whole Foods Market Midtown Atlanta employs approximately 350 full and part-time team members. The store will be open from 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. daily.

Whole Foods Market has 11 other stores in the Atlanta metropolitan area.

For more information, visit https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/midtownatlanta.