Whole Foods’ Coast-to-Coast Expansion

Whole Foods Market said it would open a new Mid-Atlantic flagship store in Tysons Corner, Va., on Oct. 30, as well as three additional stores in West Seattle, Beverly, Mass., and Long Beach, Calif., this month. In November, the Austin, Texas-based grocer belonging to Amazon plans to open new stores in Tempe, Ariz., and Parsippany, N.J.

That’s a lot of free reusable shopping bags—the grocer’s signature grand-opening giveaway.

While the Tysons Corner store in The Boro (1635 Boro Place) will be a 70,000-square-foot destination, featuring an in-store food hall with various cuisines, a bar and game room, as well as an expansive selection of grocery items, prepared foods and products from local suppliers, the additional five stores are more modest—ranging in size from 34,500 square feet (Beverly) to 47,000 square feet (Parsippany).

“We can’t wait for this community to experience their new Whole Foods Market,” said Carl DePree, store team leader for the Tysons Corner location, in a release. “From its responsibly sourced, local and innovative product offerings to its in-store food hall, bar and game room to its modern design elements, this store is unlike any other.”

Special features of the new flagship store include a fresh produce department with local and seasonal offerings; an in-house bakery boasting an array of fresh baked breads and cakes; a full-service butcher department with a variety of ready-to-cook options; and a seafood department featuring fresh locally sourced clams, shucked oysters and crab meat, as well as a large selection of ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat options.

Tysons Corner's specialty foods section boasts hundreds of cheeses overseen by an in-store American Cheese Society Certified Cheese Professional. The prepared foods area is also unique, offering seasonal hot and cold food bars; an Indian venue featuring two in-store tandoori ovens; a barbecue bar with a variety of smoked meats and sides; and a full-service deli featuring charcuterie options.

Beverages will abound at the new flagship, which includes an expansive selection of beer and wine with hundreds of options from local producers; a full-service Allegro coffee and tea bar; and a Jrink juice and smoothie bar.

As Whole Foods partners with local purveyors, the Tysons Corner store will offer thousands of products from local suppliers across Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., the company said. Fifteen of the purveyors are recipients of Whole Foods Market’s Local Producer Loan Program, which provides low-interest loans to local producers to help grow their businesses.

Food Hall and Bar

Whole Foods Market's Tysons Corner will also include its own food hall on the first floor of the store, which will feature several “Friends of Whole Foods Market” partners, including:

The Tysons Corner store will also feature a yet-to-be unveiled pub and game room on the second floor of the store.

To celebrate joining the community, 5% of the store’s net sales on Nov. 7 will benefit Food for Others, an organization that provides elementary-school children with nutritious meals for the weekend.

Whole Foods Market has nine additional stores in northern Virginia.