LYNNWOOD — Construction is nearly complete at the site of a new Whole Foods Market in Lynnwood, putting it on track for a planned mid-March opening.
According to Mindy Jahn, team leader for the new location, the long-awaited store will become the sixth Puget Sound-area location and the first Snohomish County location for the natural foods giant that has more than 310 stores across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
The Austin, Texas-based grocery chain purchased the old Circuit City building at the corner of 196th Street SW and 28th Avenue W. in 2010.
Jahn, who has been store leader at the Redmond Whole Foods for the past two years, said she was excited to be able to introduce the store to a whole new community of customers who may not be familiar with the chain.
“Whole Foods Market is about the highest quality natural and organic foods available with over-the-top customer service,” Jahn said. “It’s more than just a grocery store. It’s about a mission to really connect with the community, to source products locally, and to really deliver much more than just a grocery experience.”
Jahn explained that each Whole Foods Market is tailored to the community that surrounds it. The company plans to become involved with local activities and will join organizations such as Economic Alliance Snohomish County.
The features and layout of the new store are specifically planned to serve those who live and work in the area. The Lynnwood store, for example, will have some of the same elements found in the Seattle and Redmond locations but will also have unique features based on its own demographics.
One element of the Lynnwood store will be a children’s play area, something no other Whole Foods in the region has. A store play area was selected for the Lynnwood location because of the number of young families that live nearby.
The Lynnwood store will offer an expanded bulk foods section that will highlight getting “back to basics” in cooking. It should appeal to those learning how to cook, Jahn said, as well as offer ideas about cooking conveniently for a family, how to prepare meals on the run and how to fix cost-effective yet healthy family meals.
The other demographic that Jahn expects to see in Lynnwood are busy professionals coming in for lunch or grabbing a prepared meal to take home. She has met with the store’s deli manager to discuss getting these professionals in and out quickly and efficiently.
Whole Foods Markets deli meals tend to be popular with the grab-and-go crowd at other locations because they are usually a healthier alternative to typical fast food or deli offerings at other grocery chains.
Whole Foods says this is because produce is organic and locally sourced as often as possible. Meats and poultry are free of hormones and antibiotics and have been raised within certain animal welfare standards. Artisan breads and special pastries are free of controversial artificial sweeteners and additives.
Whole Foods Markets carries a natural or organic counterpart to almost any grocery staple offered at other supermarkets. It has many products under its own private label brands. Customers on a budget can look for Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value products — Whole Foods’ version of a generic label.
A lot of interest has been expressed in the new store, Jahn said. She has had questions from local businesses and from individuals she has met around town.
The greatest interest has been expressed by those seeking jobs, she said. The company plans to hire 149 workers from around Snohomish County.
Last month, Jahn met with Edmonds Community College culinary students to tell them about the part-time employment opportunities in the bakery and prepared-food areas. Afterwards, 85 students signed up to find out more about working for Whole Foods Markets.
“We cannot wait to open our doors and welcome everyone in,” Jahn said. “We are thrilled and excited to be part of the community.”
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