Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
The Whole Foods Market Daily Shop debuts this morning at 409 E. 14th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue. Doors open at 8 a.m.
I received a sneak preview yesterday...
I met with local Forager John Lawson (below with, from left, Kristina Sosa and Veronica Delia), who used to work at 4th Street Food Co-Op many years ago.
There's a beer section, a grab-and-go/heat-and-eat, produce, and plentiful meal prep options.
Here's a look around...
There is also a Juice & Java counter...
During the tour, I noticed nothing was under lock and key, including the Manuka honey, which is locked up at other Whole Foods locations. What is the most stolen item, according to loss prevention teams? Frozen shrimp!
There isn't an Amazon return counter, although that might change if the neighborhood requests one.
Store employees told me, "There's no Amazon counter — yet, sometimes stores wait to put one in until the store's settled, and it is possible in the future."
Two staffed registers accept cash; all other registers are credit/debit/EBT card only and self-checkout.
The self-checkout lanes are also palm-equipped for biometric data if you want to use a palm scanner.
The Daily Market concept is "to come in every day and pick up what you need for grab-and-go, and do your full shopping at Bowery or Union Square Whole Foods," a rep tells me.
And what about the decision to open a Whole Foods across the street from Trader Joe's?
"We feel there is an audience for both," says Veronica Delia from Whole Foods corporate communications team. "A lot of customers will cherry-pick," and "We're very competitive in the market."
Adds John Lawson, "We think we offer a better shop than Trader Joe's." [Shots fired!]
Meanwhile, opening day festivities include... for anyone waiting in line at 7 a.m. (the usual opening time), there will be free Abe's mini muffins and Nguyen coffee. And for the first 300 people in the door, there is a free Whole Foods Stuytown tote.
Shop hours after opening day? Daily from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m.
This is the second Whole Foods Market Daily Shop to open in Manhattan (the UES debuted last fall). Another location will open on June 4 in Hell's Kitchen.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Amazon coming to wipe out even more small businesses near you. Buy local please.
ReplyDeletePrices and quality are better at Whole Foods. Often small business has a rich guy behind it. It’s no longer Mom and Pop type of scene.
DeleteNice pics, Stacie Joy - thank you! Was curious about the offerings. I still like to buy most of my produce from the street stands that pepper the EV (hyper local!) and understand the Amazon disdain - but aren't I also buying local if I pick up some of Mimi's dumplings?
ReplyDeleteI think everyone knows that, for all TJ's good offerings, their fresh produce is often subpar. WF is generally better in that regard. (They're both anti-union, so nothing to choose from there!)
ReplyDeleteFrom people are spoke to WF and especially TJ employees like working there. Union is not a panacea. We all remember the US auto industry that went bankrupt.
DeleteThank you so much, Stacie Joy for the inside look of this new neighborhood addition! So many local products being added into this mix is very cool- thank you for "foraging' this info for us!
ReplyDeleteI would like to make a statement. It is very annoying to me that all these cafes now have cold brew as their iced coffee option. It's so intense tasting and intense feeling, I do not like it, and I don't want an iced down Americano instead. Bring back iced coffee!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this reporting. I will continue to shop at EAST VILLAGE ORGANIC and other local shops.
ReplyDeleteI do see that Amazon/Whole Foods has made an effort to carry local products and personalize the store for the area. However, it doesn’t go far enough considering Amazon’s revenues and the volume of business it crowds out. Amazon/Whole Foods should donate to city parks, sponsor neighborhood events, outdoor spaces, etc.
Love East Village Organic!
DeleteAs a contrarian to some of commenters on this thread, I think this will be a nice compliment to our neighborhood. I paid a visit to this storefront on my way home during the afternoon. It has a very polished, clean aesthetic with a plethora of local products. The staff were professional and welcoming also. TJ is great, yet it still lacks must need items such as produce, herbs, baking ingredients, etc. WF is right across the street now thankfully. No more visits to the location on Bowery and Houston. I am glad this is here. Finally, an alternative to TJ.
ReplyDeleteaside fr the obvi Amazon Foods complaint, my concern is this square block will now officially become a living hell on all sides : (
ReplyDelete