Shoppers, community leaders join founders in celebration

Grocery store brings new shopping experiences, products and service innovations to Eastside shoppers

BELLEVUE, Wash., Nov. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- At precisely 11:11 a.m. today, Bellevue shoppers got the grocery store they've been waiting for. Your Local Market, the brainchild of a veteran team of retail and grocery store professionals, opened its doors at the historic, former Safeway location at the corner of 4th and Bellevue Way NE. The store's founders and staff were joined by local shoppers, community leaders and businesspeople to celebrate the store's opening.

"After a lot of hard work, we're delighted to welcome shoppers to Your Local Market in Bellevue," said Jason Brown, the founder and CEO of the company. "We wanted to create the store with the best product mix and the most convenient shopping options available. I'm proud to say that we've done just that."

At Your Local Market, shoppers reap the benefits of decades of experience and a dedication to local, organic products as well as convenience above and beyond any other brand. The store's design is intended to reduce the amount of trips a shopper makes to multiple stores.  The customer-friendly mix of natural, organic and locally-produced goods they expect, alongside mainstream brands they trust, helps make this possible. The product mix is 80 percent natural and organic with a 20 percent blend of your everyday products.

Friday's opening was heralded by the Clyde Hill Elementary choir, and remarks from Brown and Michael Johnson, the store's founders. They were joined by representatives of Bellevue City Hall, the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce and Howard McQuaid, vice president of leasing and development at the Kemper Development Company.

"Your Local Market is the combination of everything we thought a local grocery store should have," said Johnson, the founder and Chief Food Officer of Your Local Market. "We're happy to see that shoppers are so receptive to our store."

The store opening also means the beginning of customer service innovation from Your Local Market. Starting today, shoppers can order groceries online and arrange for delivery within three miles as well as convenient curbside pickup right out front.

"Customers just need to place their orders online, give us an hour then a call when they're out front and we'll deliver their groceries into the trunk of their car, saving them time and money," said Brown. "We are Bellevue's neighborhood partner and we want to make it easy for everyone to shop."

Over the past six weeks, the Your Local Market executive team has hired more than 100 people to work in the store.

Before opening Your Local Market, Brown's 34-year career in specialty retail included the founding of Organic to Go, the nation's first fast casual retailer to be certified organic by Quality Assurance International. In 2008, Brown was honored as a finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst and Young. Over the past year he was the head of a team of consultants that created Right to Nature Hometown Market, a crossover grocery in Pittsburgh, Pa.  

Johnson brings more than 20 years in retail food service operations, including senior and operational roles at Right by Nature Market, Organic to Go and Briazz.

As its way of giving back to the community Your Local Market will be hosting its second community benefit on Thursday, December 1st, for the benefit of The Boys & Girls Club of Bellevue. From 5 pm to 7:30 pm that evening, a sampling of wines and beer, and fresh-made local foods will also be available. Additionally during this time, Your Local Market will host a silent auction with door prizes and great music.

About Your Local Market:

Your Local Market is a new concept in grocery stores. The mix of products at Your Local Market is 80 percent local, organic and natural, and 20 percent mainstream brands customers trust. Customers will not need to visit more than one store. Your Local Market offers innovative customer service options, including the curbside grocery service, which allows customers to call ahead with grocery orders and have their groceries delivered to them curbside at the store, or delivered. Your Local Market is the brainchild of a team of grocery and specialty food industry veterans based in Bellevue, Washington. Find us online at www.YourLocalMarket.com, at @YourLoclMarket (Twitter) and at Facebook.com/YLMBellevue.

Media Contact:
Aaron Blank, (206) 343-1543, aaronblank@feareygroup.com, Twitter: @AaronBlank

SOURCE Your Local Market

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http://www.yourlocalmarket.com