Whole Foods Market opened its new Long Beach, California, store at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23. Located in the 2nd & PCH shopping center at 6400 East Pacific Coast Highway, the new 45,000 s-f. store features hundreds of items from local producers, as well as an in-store bar and restaurant. Before the doors opened, the store offered complimentary refreshments, food and music. Additionally, the first 300 customers through the doors received a custom Whole Foods Market Long Beach reusable canvas tote bag and a savings card with a mystery value ranging between $5 and $100.
“It’s truly gratifying to be able to offer our customers in Long Beach access to a greater selection of high-quality, fresh and locally sourced products,” said Matthew Spohn, store team leader. “We look forward to welcoming our neighbors into their new Whole Foods Market and community gathering destination.”
Offering a selection of locally sourced options, grab-and-go prepared foods and natural and organic grocery items, all food at Whole Foods Market must meet the company’s rigorous quality standards, which prohibit hydrogenated fats, high-fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners. In addition, all beauty and body care products must meet the company’s body care standards, which ban animal testing and more than one hundred commonly used ingredients.
Special features of the store include:
- A fresh produce department featuring more than 140 selections of seasonal fruits and vegetables from 15 local growers, including onions and sweet potatoes from Valpredo Farms, strawberries from Cuevas Farms and tomatoes from Houweling’s.
- An in-house bakery offering an array of daily baked breads and cakes, as well as a variety of baked goods from local suppliers such as Passionate Pastry, Rockenwagner Bakery and Rocq Macarons, as well as items for vegan and other special diets.
- A full-service butcher department offering made in-house sausages, whiskey dry aged steaks and self-serve smoked meats, as well as options from seven local suppliers, including heirloom chicken from Mary’s Free Range Chicken, beef from Eel River and frozen meat patties from Tribali.
- A seafood department featuring fresh offerings from local producers, including a variety of shucked oysters from Carlsbad Aquafarm, oak-roasted salmon from The Santa Barbara Smokehouse, a self-serve poke bar and a large selection of packaged and frozen fish.
- A specialty foods section featuring a selection of cheeses overseen by an in-store American Cheese Society Certified Cheese Professional, including local items from suppliers such as Los Angeles-based Angelo & Franco.
- A selection of more than 300 beers and 1,000 wines, many from local producers, including Beachwood Brewing, Smog City Brewing Co., Los Angeles Ale Works and Brouwerij West. The department also features in-house cicerones on staff.
- Hot and cold prepared food bars featuring seasonal dishes, organic offerings and options for special diets, as well as stations for signature sandwiches, focaccia and personal pizzas, tacos and Kikka sushi.
- A beauty and body care department featuring products from over 35 local suppliers including bulk soaps and bath salts from Forest Nymph, candles from Makana Studios and wellness shots from Vive Organic.
- Nékter Juice Bar: in-store juice, tea and coffee bar offering clean and nutrient-rich açai bowls, superfood smoothies, freshly-made juices, tea, lattes and drip coffee.
- The Breakwater: in-store bar and restaurant with seating for up to 180 customers, offering an expansive wine menu, local beers and cocktails on draft and pub-style food including vegan fare and daily happy hour specials.
Amazon Prime members who shop at Whole Foods Market have access to a number of benefits year-round, like deep discounts on dozens of select popular products each week and an additional 10 percent off hundreds of in-store items. In addition, eligible Prime members receive 5 percent back on Whole Foods Market purchases when using the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card.
On Wednesday, Nov. 6, 5 percent of the store’s net sales will benefit California State University Long Beach (CSULB)’s Basic Needs Program, which provides services to address housing and food insecurity on campus.
Whole Foods Market Long Beach will employ approximately 200 full- and part-time team members. Following the grand opening, the store will be open from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. daily.
Whole Foods Market has 34 additional stores in the greater Los Angeles area.
