03/02/2005 09:04:00 PM 
It will exceed Whole Foods current largest store in Columbus Circle, New York in terms of size, scale and overall ambition.
It's a true celebration of food, especially the fresh stuff.
Some highlights include:
Lots of dine-in eateries will be included through the store- featuring seafood and wine and salads made to order, a candy and sundae fountain, juice bar, noodle shop and a trattoria serving pasta and sauces
Produce area- designed like a farmer's market
An in-house meat smoker
A wine store with 1,800 wines
A 25,000 sq ft outdoor performance space and theater with seating for 200
They're also including some smart technology; a moving sidewalk to take customers from the parking garage to the store, ordering kiosks for lunch items like pizzas, sandwiches and deli trays and multiple touch screens to give detailed product information and recipes when required.
It's a very interesting concept, not just because of its scale and ambition, but also because of its strategic smarts. The store fuses the idea of an upscale grocery store, traditional food experiences like cafes and farmer's markets, with multiple restaurant experiences (think, a food court on steroids).
Whole Foods understands their consumer's multiple modalities of food purchase and consumption and is looking to grab as much share of these occasions as possible.
It's interesting that inspiration for the new store started with the CEO, who defined his vision for the best food store in the world, with just 9 words. These served as the blueprint for the entire concept.
Share / Bookmark:
It appears you don't have Flash installed.