Whole Foods is set to open its first Inland Empire store Wednesday, May 30, in Upland.
The Whole Foods Market 365, at 2153 W. Baseline Ave., will have natural and organic products found in a traditional Whole Foods Market, but on a smaller and more affordable scale, company officials say.
“All of our quality standards and our amazing products are all now going to be available out here in the Inland Empire for the first time,” said Bryan Bergmann, store team leader and Claremont resident. “It has a lot of people very excited.”
The store is the Austin, Texas-based natural and organic grocer’s ninth 365 store.
It will offer shoppers a smaller and more open floor plan, self-service options and many grab-and-go items to make shopping more convenient, Bergmann said.
The products are carefully curated, Bergmann said, from the organic produce to the cheese procured from private farms in Wisconsin.
Plus, everything is free of artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, preservatives and hydrogenated fats.
“I know this area really gets it,” Bergmann said. “They get conscious eating and quality. I think this area gets what we’re about.”
Once inside, shoppers will find:
- A wide selection of produce, including more than 200 organic options and pre-cut vegetables, and fresh meat and seafood that meets the company’s standards for animal wellness and sustainability. Meat and seafood will be cut fresh daily and ready-to-cook options also will be available.
- A salad and hot food bar where shoppers can build their own meals or grab something pre-made, such as Detroit-style pizza by the slice, and a sandwich counter.
- Baked goods from Los Angeles-based Larder Baking Co., cookie bar and other baked goods.
- Wine and beer, including beer from local brewery Claremont Craft Ales. If they’re looking for a good dish to pair with a certain wine or beer, shoppers can scan a bottle at the on-site pairing kiosk for more information.
- A selection of 75 hand-picked artisanal cheeses, including burrata from Pomona based Di Stefano Cheese.
- There are products from 365 Everyday Value brand available throughout the store; vegan and paleo diet-friendly options, home goods, body care products and pet food, to name a few more.
The store also features a couple of “firsts” for shoppers, including the first California location for Austin-based Picnik, which offers specialty coffee and smoothies with healthy ingredients from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Kikka Sushi, the company that provides sushi at Whole Foods, is opening its first freestanding restaurant and bar, “the Bar and Noodle,” which will serve poke, rice and noodle bowls as well as sake, beer and wine from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
When the opportunity arose to open a restaurant through the company’s Friends of 365 program, they applied, said Grant Kimura, who does marketing and promotions for Kikka.
“We did some research and I think in the area, the type of food we carry is going to be very popular,” Kimura said. “All of our food is made with no MSG, no food coloring, no preservatives, so it’s all natural.”
The 365 store is in the 80,000-square-foot Sycamore Hills Plaza, which is part of the new master-planned community of Sycamore Hills in Upland, north of Baseline Road near the 210 Freeway. It will co-anchor the center with a CVS Pharmacy.
Most of the center is within Upland’s city limits, but a portion of it lies in the city of Claremont.
Several other businesses have opened, such as MOD Pizza, Starbucks, Supercuts, the UPS Store, and the first SpireWorks Modern Döner in the region.
Other businesses expected to open are Jersey Mike’s Subs, WaBa Grill, Corky’s Homestyle Kitchen & Bakery, Dog Haus Biergarten and Orangetheory Fitness.
The Whole Foods Market 365 store opens at 9 a.m. Wednesday. The first 100 customers in line will receive a 365 store gift card ranging in value from $5 to $365 and a free reusable tote bag. The store will provide Picnik coffee, snacks and music for shoppers waiting in line.
Regular store hours will be from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
