Whole Foods to open small-format shop on the Upper East Side this year
Rendering courtesy of Whole Foods
Whole Foods is piloting a new, small-format convenience store on the Upper East Side this year. The supermarket chain on Monday announced plans to open a “Whole Foods Market Daily Shop” at 1175 Third Avenue as part of an ongoing effort to provide a quick and convenient shopping experience for customers in urban areas. The Upper East Side location, which will replace The Food Emporium that closed last April, marks the first step in a broader expansion project, with the grocer expecting to open multiple New York City locations and in other cities across the United States in the future.
The compact “quick-shop” stores, ranging in size from 7,000 to 14,000 square feet, will offer the same high-quality products that are synonymous with the Whole Foods brand but in a space half the size.
The Daily Shops will prioritize convenience, offering a variety of grab-and-go meals and snacks, weekly essentials, and more. The smaller stores are meant to pave the way for the supermarket brand’s “expansion into dense, metropolitan areas,” according to a press release.
While smaller than standard-sized supermarkets, the shops will still offer a diverse selection of fresh produce, meat, seafood, bread, alcohol, supplements, and a rotating variety of handpicked local specialties, according to the company.
Additionally, the Upper East Side location will be the first Whole Foods store in Manhattan to feature “Juice & Java,” which offers coffee, tea, fresh pressed juices, smoothies, sandwiches, soups, and desserts.
“At our new store formats, we’re tailoring every square foot to the unique, fast-paced needs of urban lifestyles,” Christina Minardi, executive vice president of Growth & Development at Whole Foods Market & Amazon, said. “We’re excited to introduce a new way for our customers to quickly pick up their Whole Foods Market favorites – from grab-and-go meals to that last-minute dinner ingredient – making the early morning or after-work grocery trips more efficient and enjoyable.”
“Expanding our footprint with Whole Foods Market Daily Shop is key to our growth, fostering deeper customer connections, and advancing our purpose to nourish people and the planet.”
The small-format stores will not replace the regular, full-sized Whole Foods supermarkets but will serve as an alternative way for customers to conveniently shop and enjoy the grocer’s beloved selection of products.
Whole Foods currently has 17 locations in New York City, with the latest at the brand new office-condo conversion One Wall Street.
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