Whole Foods opened up its first “smaller format store,” Whole Foods Market Daily Shop, on the Upper East Side on Wednesday at 1175 Third Avenue (between 69th and 68th streets).
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The store, which was originally announced in March, caused a bit of a controversy before it opened, with the board of the Trump Palace Condo suing the supermarket chain and others over damages caused by the construction.
Still, opening day at the new Whole Foods attracted a ton of customers, with the store being very crowded less than an hour after opening its doors.
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“Whole Foods Market Daily Shop will provide a convenient option for grab-and-go meals and snacks, weekly essentials, and a quick, easy destination to pick up ingredients to complete a meal – with all items meeting the company’s rigorous quality standards,” the company said in a press release issued last week.
The new location boasts more than 400 local products from over 100 suppliers based in the Northeast United States. Three local brands launched at the store including Jack & Friends jerky, P-Nuff Crunch protein snacks and Mimi Cheng’s dumplings. Additionally, TALEA Beer is offering an exclusive Lenox Hill Pilsener that will only be available at the new Whole Foods.
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Besides boosting local brands, Whole Foods said that it will also contribute money to local charitable organizations as part of the opening.
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“As part of its ongoing commitment to supporting local communities, Whole Foods Market is contributing in-kind product to support the work of The Bowery Mission, City Harvest and Gotham Food Pantry,” the company said in a release. “The three organizations will also pick up excess food from the Lenox Hill location as part of Whole Foods Market’s Grocery Rescue Program, and The Bowery Mission and City Harvest are Nourishing our Neighborhoods van partners.”
The first 300 customers on opening morning received a specially branded tote bag, a complimentary cold brew from Nguyen Coffee Supply and muffins from Abe’s.
This new smaller Whole Foods joins its regular-sized neighboring store at 1551 Third Avenue, between 87th and 88th streets. Last week, the grocer also announced plans to open another Whole Foods Market Daily Shop at 409 E. 14th Street at StuyTown in the East Village, along with the previously announced Hell’s Kitchen location at 301 W. 50th St.
Maybe the freebies were related to the big opening crowd! Trump Palace residents may want prepared food to replace their interrupted gas cooking.
They should open one on West 93rd and Broadway, the old CVS space that became available in February.