Whole Foods Market® to Open Newest Store in University Place on May 7

UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash., May 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Whole Foods Market will open its doors in University Place, Washington on Thursday, May 7. This is the first Whole Foods Market store in Pierce County, and the eighth location in Washington state. To celebrate the grand opening, Whole Foods Market will host a "bread-breaking ceremony" at 8:30 a.m. University Place Mayor Denise McCluskey and Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber Member Tom Pearson will join Whole Foods Market regional leadership, local suppliers and community partners to break a 4-foot-long loaf of challah bread, and welcome shoppers into the neighborhood's new shopping destination. Doors open and shopping begins at 9 a.m.

"We're thrilled to be opening our first store in Pierce County, and we're very grateful for the warm welcome we've received from the community," said Joe Rogoff, Regional President for Whole Foods Market in the Pacific Northwest. "We took time to meet with people and listen to what this community needs, and we've worked hard to design a store that reflects that. I think shoppers will agree that this store was worth the wait."

Located at 3515 Bridgeport Way W. in the Village at Chambers Bay, the new store will serve as a gathering place for local residents and provide an unmatched selection of high quality natural and organic goods, as well as a wide variety of locally sourced products and delicious dining options. Select store highlights include:

• The Lumberyard, a made-in-house, wood-fired pizza eatery, offers a full menu of antipasti, salads, thin crust and deep dish signature pizzas, vegan pizzas, baked pastas and desserts. Wheat free, rice crust pizza dough is also available upon request. People can enjoy wines by the bottle, or choose from the 10 beers on tap, including local brews, as well as ginger beer and cider. With seating for 29, customers can dine in or order pizzas and more to go.
• Top local brewers collaborated with Whole Foods Market Team Members to introduce a highly curated set of beers exclusively available at the Chambers Bay store. These include a Wingman Black Currant Saison, Narrows Diver Down IPA and an English-style IPA from 7 Seas. In addition, Whole Foods Market's Chambers Bay store is the only retail partner selling the Chambers Bay Summer Open Ale from Harmon Brewing. Beer enthusiasts can follow the changing selections on the TapHunter app.
• A covered patio with seating for 50 around a cozy indoor/outdoor fireplace.
• A custom-ordered fish fry basket in the seafood department made with beer batter from a brew specially created by Narrows Brewing for the Chambers Bay store.
• Custom burger bar in the Meat Department allowing shoppers to order their own stuffed burger creation.
• A community art installation, created by students at Curtis High School, will greet shoppers as they approach the store.
• Abundant storefront parking, in addition to convenient under-store parking directly off of Drexler Drive.

The first 75 visitors to the store on May 7 will receive a Whole Foods Market gift card with a mystery value between $10 and $100. Gift cards will be distributed starting at 6:30 a.m. Grand opening festivities will also include free coffee and live music from the Curtis High School Pep Band.

As part of Whole Foods Market's commitment to serving the communities where it does business, Whole Foods Market Chambers Bay Team Members will present a check to the Emergency Food Network with contributions from a "Friends and Family Sneak Peek" event held the evening of Tuesday, May 5. In addition to proceeds from shoppers that evening, Whole Foods Market is contributing a matching donation up to $2,000.

Additionally, CB's Nuts, a small batch nut roaster in Kingston, Washington, will be presented with an $80,000 Local Producer Loan during the grand opening events. Since 2006, Whole Foods Market's Local Producer Loan Program has loaned more than $16 million in low-interest loans to local and independent food producers.

Shoppers visiting Whole Foods Market Chambers Bay store can look forward to:

• Prepared Foods – A wide range of grab-and-go meal options will be available daily, including a taqueria, signature and made-to-order sandwiches, teriyaki bowls and a selection of Asian entree choices. A rotating hot bar, a salad bar with plenty of organic vegetables and fresh-cut fruit, and 10 fresh soup options will make mealtime decisions quick and convenient. The Prepared Foods Department exclusively uses organic or Non-GMO Verified chicken, as well as cage-free eggs, and non-GMO canola oil in all house-made dishes.
• Highest Quality Produce and Floral – All of the produce and flowers sold in the store meets the company's Responsibly Grown Produce rating system, supporting the store's commitment to quality, human health and the environment. A highlight in this department is the cold-pressed juices made fresh daily.
• Coffee Bar  – Customers can enjoy fresh-brewed coffee and custom espresso beverages daily from Allegro®.
• Juice Bar - Freshly made-to-order smoothies and juices use local and organic produce. And shoppers can also order from a selection of Vega smoothies, with blends inspired by South Sound destinations.
• Meat – All of the products in the full-service Meat Department come from animals that are raised without antibiotics or added growth hormones, ever. Whole Foods Market's Animal Welfare standards are industry leading and include the Global Animal Partnership's (GAP) 5-Step Animal Welfare Rating Standards.
• Seafood – Whole Foods Market's quality standards for seafood lead the industry. All of the wild-caught seafood is certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or rated by The Safina Center and Monterey Bay Aquarium (MBA). One of the most unique fixtures in the department is a bivalve shellfish tank that has a filtration system that keeps shellfish fresh. A special item to shop for is the pre-soaked cedar plank featuring flavors such as bourbon, brandy, red and white wine and hard apple cider.
• Artisan Bakery – The Bakery Department offers artisan breads, custom cakes, and an assortment of sweet and savory baked goods baked-in-house daily and all without the use of artificial flavors, colors and preservatives. The Bakery uses only cage-free eggs from Steibrs Farm in Yelm and sources Northwest ingredients such as Shepherd's Grain non-GMO flour and dairy from Washington. A filled-to-order cannoli station offers a choice of chocolate, toasted almond, raspberry pistachio, orange cardamom filling.
• Specialty – Whole Foods Market Chambers Bay has a selection of more than 70 beers, curated specifically for this store. Shoppers can talk with in-store wine experts to find the right wine from around the globe or pick from one of 200 Washington wines. And with a selection of more than 300 different cheeses, there is something to suit everyone's taste.
• Whole Body – Whole Foods Market's Premium Body Care Standards are one of the only rating systems in the industry. There are more than 50 ingredients found in conventional body care products that are not allowed in any body care products Whole Foods Market sells. A unique experience in Whole Body is the aroma therapy center.
• Store Tours – The store offers shopping tours tailored to address special diets including plant-based diets and food allergies. Private tours can be arranged by request for organizations such as schools and senior centers. These tours will kick off on Thursday, May 14 at 10 a.m.
• Whole Foods Market 5% Days -- Four times a year, Whole Foods Market commits one day on which 5 percent of the day's net sales is contributed to a local 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. The first 5% Day at Chambers Bay will be Thursday, July 2, for the Tacoma Farmers Market.

Store Information
Hours: Open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; coffee and juice bar opens at 6 a.m. daily.
Location: 3515 Bridgeport Way W., University Place, WA 98466
Store Telephone: (253-534-4500) / Lumberyard Telephone: (253-534-4505)
Web site: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/chambersbay  
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WFMchambersbay   
Twitter: http://twitter.com/WFMchambersbay
Instagram: http://instagram.com/wfmchambersbay

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 88,000 team members, Whole Foods Market has been ranked as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in America by FORTUNE magazine for 18 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2014, the company had sales of more than $14 billion and currently has more than 417 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. For more company news and information, please visit media.wfm.com.

SOURCE Whole Foods Market

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