Includes a pub, four mini-restaurants, a to-go beer section and more
The new 62,000 sq. ft Whole Foods Market opened Friday, Oct. 14 on Pennsylvania Ave. The store includes a large, sunny coffee bar which was bustling all morning on opening day.
Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice
by Thom Carroll PhillyVoice Contributor
Philly's newest Whole Foods Market opened Friday, Oct. 14, and was greeted by thousands of enthusiastic shoppers and gawkers.
A massive crowd turned up to see what the new store — at 2101 Pennsylvania Ave., siteof the old Best Western — had to offer. Short answer: a lot. There is a pub serving food and booze, a large to-go beer section, four miniature versions of Philly restaurants (like Dizengoff and Cheu noodle bar), a huge cafe and lots of seating.
Take a look.
Thom Carroll/PhillyVoiceThe massive prepared foods area at the 'Philly City Center' Whole Foods Market
Thom Carroll/PhillyVoiceThe Charcuterie, or deli. Thom Carroll/PhillyVoiceThe pub inside the store serves beer, wine, cocktails and food. Thom Carroll/PhillyVoiceThe new coffee bar at Whole Foods is completely separate from the groceries, allowing customers to buy coffee without walking into the main part of the store.
Thom Carroll/PhillyVoiceAnother new addition is a juice bar. Thom Carroll/PhillyVoiceThere is a large selection of beer-to-go sold at the new Whole Foods Market. Thom Carroll/PhillyVoiceIn the expanded seafood department, a wild-caught swordfish was available as 'cut-to-order.' Thom Carroll/PhillyVoiceMany options of local produce are available, including a large section from the Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative. Thom Carroll/PhillyVoiceMore varities of produce are available than at the previous location. Thom Carroll/PhillyVoiceButchers in a fancy display case are available to provide, 'Any cut, any size (at) any time.' Thom Carroll/PhillyVoiceCHeU Noodle Bar. Thom Carroll/PhillyVoiceElaine Gardner mixes Israeli salad at the Dizengoff restaurant. Thom Carroll/PhillyVoiceOne major issue is on the accessibility front. There is only one elevator (which was out of service for most of the morning) to get from street level to the shopping area. This required a small group of employees to help carry strollers up and down the three sets of stairs. Many people with restricted mobility had a hard time accessing the store. Thom Carroll/PhillyVoiceThis location really stepped up its prepared foods game. Thom Carroll/PhillyVoiceThe fresh pasta and cheese section. Thom Carroll/PhillyVoiceThere are large indoor and outdoor seating areas, many of which have access to elecrtical outlets.