Whole Foods opens new store in suburban Rochester, New York

Whole Foods Market opened its newest store on Wednesday in the Rochester, New York, suburb of Brighton, the grocer announced.  

The 50,000-square-foot store is the first Whole Foods in the Rochester area and features more than 500 local products from Central and Western New York, sourced by John Lawson, local forager for Whole Foods Market’s Northeast region, the company said.  

Shoppers who make it out for opening day will also receive giveaways and free samples, and the first 500 people in the store get a tote bag and scratch-and-win Whole Foods Market gift cards. More information about opening-day specials is available online.

“We’re thrilled to open our doors to the local community as we enter the city of Rochester for the first time,” said Nicole Davia, Whole Foods Market regional president for the Northeast region, in a statement. “Through our knowledgeable team members, high-quality standards and hand-picked selection of local to Western and Central New York products, we look forward to serving our new neighbors and introducing them to a shopping experience unlike anywhere else.”  

Among the locally sourced products is Oliver’s Organic Eggs, which is the newest recipient of Whole Foods’ Local Producer Loan Program, which makes available low-interest loans to local businesses. The egg producer received a $65,000 loan to build a new hen house, the grocer noted. That program, to date, has provided $28 million in loans to more than 365 recipients. 

The store also features an homage to the city of Rochester’s history as an “epicenter of photography” with a enlarged decorative film strip that features local landmarks. 

Shoppers will also discover a robust produce section and a "veggie butcher” available to cut produce to order. Fruits and veggies are sourced from more than a dozen local farmers, including greens from Agbotic Farms, tomatoes from Intergrow, beets from Stick and Stone Farm and apples from Hudson River Fruit, the grocer noted. 

The store’s specialty department celebrates cheesemakers and artisan producers, including pastas from Severino Pasta, Lumberjack Bucheron from Old Chatham Creamery and cheese curds from Family Farmstead Dairy.  

The grocer’s private label products, sold under the name 365 by Whole Foods Market, are also available alongside other local products, such as coffee from companies Joe Bean and Bold & Gritty; sauces from Rubino’s Italian Foods; pastas from Bozza’s; and kombucha from Katboocha. 

Whole Foods also noted that the store includes a full-service seafood counter, a full-service meat counter and a beer selection for more than 200 craft beers, including selections from local breweries such as Swiftwater Brewing, Fifth Frame Brewing Co. and Strangebird. 

A hot food bar, salad bar and soup station are also available in the prepared food section, offering favorites like rotisserie chicken, pizza, sushi, salads and sandwiches. Those with a taste for Mediterranean food can visit the location’s Za’atar in-store restaurant that offers fresh salads and grain bowls.  

The store’s bakery department will offer bread made in house and other popular items such as the grocer’s Mango Yuzu Chantilly cake, strawberry rhubarb pie and raspberry rhubarb scones.  

Whole Foods also announced that it is giving back to the community through the donation of a refrigerated van to Open Door Mission to help the organization more easily transport food to communities in need. The grocer also made donation to Foodlink, Flower City Pickers and The Commissary, a shared commercial kitchen and food business incubator in Rochester. 

The donation to the commercial kitchen is a timely one. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the grocer is considering building its own commercial kitchens. The story noted that Whole Foods has grown its prepared foods sections over the last few years, with catering services, bakeries and eateries such as coffee bars and wine bars.