Whole Foods Market will open their newest BC store in Burnaby on Thursday January 28th, 2016 at 8:30am with a bread-breaking ceremony with Mayor Derek Corrigan.
The new market is located in the Solo District right at Brentwood Town Centre. The new store serves as a gathering place for local residents and provide high-quality natural and organic goods, as well as locally-sourced products and dining options.
I’ve been waiting for a long time for Whole Foods to come to Burnaby for a very long time. I’ve always adored their spacious store with a large variety of foods. SO beautiful. When I was asked to come for a sneak peek of their store, how could I say no?
More than 230 new team members have been hired for this store, which many are residents of Burnaby.
Each Whole Foods Market is a reflection of the unique community it’s part of its history and heritage, its personal style, and the people who will shape and define its future. When you walk into the store you will see the core values spelled out on the wall as well as a beautiful metal crow art pieces created with a local elementary school.
If you live in Burnaby, you will always notice the huge murder of crows that pass by BCIT every night.
To help make your life easier while shopping, they have their concierge service to help you.
Vega Juice Bar
A juice bar is created in partnership with Burnaby-based Vega. If you need smoothies, juices or shots to perk up your day, it’ll be here.
They also have a pretty cool light fixture.
If you are an avid runner, you can plot your favourite route on the chalk board.
Bulk Section
Cheese
Their cheese department has a lot of different cheeses, plus if you ask their staff, you can try it all before you buy it.
It’s really great service if you have no idea what type of cheese you want to get for your meal.
Butcher Shop
Their full service meat department come from animals raised without antibiotics or added growth hormones. This location offers beef from BC ranchers and local chicken sourced from Thomas Reed and Maple Hill Farms. I love the extra mile they put into selecting their produce and it makes their employees proud of what they are selling to customers.
Seafood
The seafood department has awesome complimentary services like marinating your seafood, preparing your seafood, ice, and cooking advice.
All of the wild-caught seafood is certified sustainable by Marine Stewardship Council or by SeaChoice.
Prepared Meals
There will be a wide range of grab and go meals including pizza, sandwiches, burritos, salad, etc.
Theres also a sushi area to order sushi by the roll.
Black Bird Street Food
At the Black Bird Street Food area, it will be an Indian dosa bar where you will find a variety of curry, wrapped in a South Indian, sour lentil pancake.
Bakery
The delectable bakery department features a throwback menu of comfort classics like pudding by the gram, and icebox cheesecake.
They also have a warm dessert section station with piping hot cookies, cinnamon rolls and brownies. When was the last time you had fresh out of the oven treats?
Allegro Coffee Bar
Artisan Soap By Weight
They have this area where you can purchase artisan soap by weight. It actually spells pretty nice if you want something unique in your washroom.
Interior
Just looking around the store, I was super excited to see so many local producers of amazing products like Hagensborg Chocolates a few minutes away from the store. They have some pretty amazing chocolates.
That display is so beautiful!
When I came here, the staff were slowly putting together their produce displays up.
Overall
It’s a great alternative to have Whole Foods in Burnaby as there are no other large market that will be so transparent with what you’re buying, plus they have high standards of selecting what they carry.
Of course it is more expensive that your average grocery store, but the alternative is there. Especially with the weak Canadian dollar and skyrocketing produce prices, it will be interesting to see how the community responds.
Store details
Hours:
Open daily from 7am – 10pm
Address:
4420 Lougheed Highway, Burnaby BC
Telephone:
604 205 5032
Website:
https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/
