Whole Foods Market opened its newest location in Del Mar, CA yesterday. I had the privilege to take a pre-opening tour on Monday to see what they had in store (no pun intended) for customers in this beautiful North coastal county of San Diego.
I have to admit, it’s been a while since I’ve stepped foot into a Whole Foods Market. I used to have the feeling that I wasn’t “crunchy-granola” enough to find my way around the store. As the years went on, I started thinking more about my health and what I put into my body and foods like quinoa are no longer a “keen-what?!” What’s great about Whole Foods in Del Mar is that the moment you step in, you’re greeted to a bright welcoming environment, designed to complement the local community—you don’t have to be “granola” to shop here.
Being in the design field, I admire and appreciate when companies put a lot of thought into their brand and in this case, their store. There are touches of Del Mar and the San Diego coastline all throughout—some walls were textured to resemble sandstone cliffs, others were reminiscent of the nearby race track, the colors were bright, yet organic, and each section of the store had it’s own personality. The store was just beautiful.
Beyond the beauty of the store is Whole Foods’ commitment to bringing healthy and responsible food to people. You don’t have to be a health guru to know what to get, which is great for those who are just beginning to transform to a healthier lifestyle. The store distinctly displays good-for-you products with their “Health Starts Here” endcaps and labeling. They display their “Healthy Eating Principles” so you know exactly why they’ve selected certain products. It also helps you make better decisions about what foods you eat outside of what’s provided in store.
We can’t forget Whole Foods’ famous cheese counter. Their specialty department features an exclusive “Tri Milk Sampler” which is a snack tray of 3 cheeses (each from a different milk) and crackers to go along with it. You can also have meats to go along with your crackers. Prosciutto cut to order? Yes…yes they do.
Shopping at Whole Foods is an educational experience — even at their seafood and meat departments. They Local beers on tap![/caption]
Other prepared food options include:
- A sandwich bar that uses nearly all locally-sourced San Diego ingredients
- In-store bakery
- An in-store kitchen that features handcrafted pizza, in-house chips and dips, meals-on-the-go.
- Prepared salads, an Asian menu that features sushi (which is fantastic), plus Chinese and Korean options
- A 100% organic salad bar that features local venders
Whole Foods is also committed to supporting local farmers. At the preview, they presented a $100,000 loan to Archi’s Acres so that they may continue provide organic, sustainable food to the community. Archi’s Acres also serves our country by providing training programs for transitioning veterans so that they may have careers in sustainable agriculture. What a great cause!
Whole Foods in Del Mar is located in the Flower Hill Shopping Center at 2600 Via de la Valle (where Milton’s used to be). If you’re familiar with the area I know you’re thinking, “What about parking?” Don’t worry, they’ve put a parking garage behind the shopping center so there will be plenty of free parking.
If you haven’t been to a Whole Foods Market or haven’t been to one in a while (like me), the Del Mar location is definitely worth checking out.
Follow Whole Foods Market Del Mar for the latest specials, news, demos and events happening at their store:
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Disclosure: I was given samples and was compensated for this post sponsored by Whole Foods Market Del Mar. All opinions are my own.