I tried to get away from the bakery all morning, but I kept getting stuck!! Sheet pans to stack, bread to bag, customers to serve!
I joked the other day “I hope I can slip away from my bakery job to the Whole Foods opening.” And a reader responded “Kath, as a blogger it is your job to go to the Whole Foods opening!” I knew I couldn’t miss it 
Granola tided me over..
But finally – WHOLE FOODS!!!!!!!!!!!!
To say this store is amazing would be an understatement.
I knew the store was moving. Our tiny Whole Foods was about the size of our bakery! I knew the new store would be pretty. But I had NO IDEA it would be as big, bold and beautiful as it was!!
There are huge walls of wood, local products (well labeled!) everywhere.
A SALT bulk section as well as a DRIED MUSHROOM bulk section!
Check out the bulk granola bar!! I kept turning new corners and finding huge new displays. SO many more products! A whole raw foods section.
DAVE – Shenandoah Joe – was there with local coffee!!
I tasted some coffee, some hummus, gazpacho, shrimp, and WINE! I was in awe. I kept squealing to employees how I felt like I had won the lottery. This is my Whole Foods! I feel so spoiled now. Coming from Charlotte where we didn’t even have one – I’m so excited! Also, it’s closer to my house!!
There is even a full bar area with wine and tons of local Virginia beers on tap – where you can fill a growler! I raved over the cool label and the girl handed me a liter to take home to Matt!!
Pretty!
I went with Allie from work so we sat down to salads before we headed back
Veggies, tempura sweet potato, maple whipped sweet potatoes, lots of kale, curry cauliflower and fruit.
Green kombucha on the side
Back at the bakery now. I left took over the store while Matt took a nap on our office floor! Off to bag some bread.
And Cville, we still have Cinnamon Chip + Cheddar Garlic left! And lots of Pumpkin Muffins!
-KERF, Whole Foods Journalist
OMG. Cannot wait to see it in person. It looks incredible! Was it crowded??
Not in a bad way. Samples everywhere!
Nothing like samples!
WOW–I have never seen a Whole Foods like that! Whole Foods just opened up another location in San Francisco, but the local produce and food selection doesn’t even compare to what your new one offers. You are one lucky lady!
Ha,ha. I love it! It looks amazing.
I’m still stuck here in Charlotte, where they have FINALLY broken ground on our Whole Foods. Just have to wait another year now! 🙁
I was in Asheville last weekend, and shocked to see that Greenlife Grocery had been purchased by Whole Foods. So, I squealed with joy (not that I didn’t love Greenlife as it was, but it was better now!) and shopped my little heart out, on vacation. It was great.
~
Oh, am I jealous! Whole Foods is easily one of the things I miss most here in France. That granola bar is genius! 😀
WOW!!!! What a store!! I wish we had one near us. 🙁 I love the bulk section idea.
Glad you found time to check it out. 🙂
I am checking it out today. So excited!!! Hi! I was one of the mess of people who came in to say hi to you on Saturday! The bread was so soft and squishy and yummy!
Thanks for coming in!
Weeeeeee!! Let’s go everyday for lunch!
…then it’ll really really really be Whole Paycheck.
Laughing out loud
AHHHH how exciting!! My town is getting a WF in the near future and I am just as pumped about it as you are. Sure I can’t afford to shop there every week, but it’s so nice to have the option. Plus I just love wandering around discovering new produce & products. LOVE!
I love the feeling of walking into a whole foods…this one sounds amazing!
We stopped at our local Whole Foods for lunch in the middle of a bicycle instructor training on Sunday. My plate, while delicious, did leave quite a dent in my wallet.
No big deal, until Sunday night and yesterday, when I definitely had some GI issues 🙁 While it’s often hard, if not impossible, to pinpoint the sources, salad bars and buffets are notorious as locations for food poisoning. Not to say that I won’t eat there again, but I might be a bit less enthusiastic.
Yay on having a nice WF nearby, though!
I can’t believe they let you take pictures in there! I always get yelled at! So exciting you have a Whole Foods near you! I’m personally a Trader Joe’s enthusiast myself, but Whole Foods is most definitely second best in my book!
They were watching me! I think because it’s a “press” day?!
Whenever I want to take photos inside a store, I just use my iPhone camera and hope they’ll think I’m texting or checking my shopping list or something. 🙂 The pictures are inferior, of course, but I’m less likely to get caught!
Is there something wrong with taking photographs in a store or restaurant? Can you be prevented from doing it, or can they take it away from you? I was just wondering…It never occurred to me it would be a problem. It would seem to me they would appreciate the ‘free’ publicity or compliment that someone would want to preserve their memory of visiting.
Yeah, they think you’re going to copy their displays
Just out of curisity, would you be ok if a custome tried to photograph the GH displays?
Yeah, that’s fine with me!! I may be biased because I’m a blogger though
I also often get no-nos when taking pics in stores. I use a small camera and try to be discrete but do it anyways.
I love Whole Foods but Trader Joe’s is my favorite too!!!!
I am so jealous of the whole foods! I wish where I lived we had one, I do not ever see that happening : p
I’m jealous. I don’t have a Whole Foods in my city at all. 🙁 Perhaps one day!
The closest Whole Foods stores to us are in Dublin and Cincinnati, Ohio. My sister is relocating to Cincy soon and I’m trying to talk her into living near Whole Foods! So happy for you yet so jealous!
I live a 5-10 min drive from the Dublin WF … it is both awesomely convenient and dangerous for my grocery budget. 🙂 Where in Ohio are you at?
I’m actually in Dayton. But used to live in Columbus so I go back there frequently. You are SO lucky! Enjoy!
zomg. SO JEALOUS.
Do you think I have time to drive from Topeka before you close? I’d like some of your pumpkins muffins.
Pedal to the metal!!
that’s a gorgeous whole foods! you should see the original one in austin, tx – amazing!!!
I was going to say the same thing, but waited to scroll down to see if someone else referenced it. I went there during SXSW! While I didn’t want to minimize Kath’s new store, she will be blown away if she ever visits that ‘original’ location. Also, Kath got it wrong that she is so excited that it’s closer to her house. In reality, they knew how wonderful she is for Cville and how busy she is so they intentionally closed the other location just to build a bigger and better one to be more conveniently located for her 🙂 !!!
i was there for SXSW as well! what a small world.
I’m convinced, I’m moving to Charlottesville. It is just too fantastic! I am definitely coming to visit you this summer!
What a BEAUTY of a grocery store!
Oooh fancy schmancy! I’m so jealous of the salt section.
I like the wood stud look on the walls, though it’s obviously decorative. (No insulation on an exterior wall? I don’t think so!) But it is way cuter than boring old paint!
I love Whole Foods! I can walk to ours from my apartment (swoon!) I remember going NUTS as a kid over free samples at the grocery store…ok maybe I still do a little;)
The new store looks awesome!
Between you and Allie, I am so JEALOUS of your whole foods! I don’t have any within 50 miles 🙁 A salt bar? for real?
OH you are so lucky!!! I would love love love to live near a massive WFs – my nearest one is a 3hr train ride away!
I gotta say Kath, you have amazing legs! They look so strong (and I meant hat 100% in a good way) – I’m very jealous!
Thanks 😉
Kath I’m so happy for you that you have this shiny, happy, new WFs!
You are exuding sheer joy in these pics!! I’d also love to know how you get such great pics from strangers? When ever I hand my camera off to others (not my dslr either!) to say I am underwhelmed would be an understatement 🙂
Love your enthusiasm in this post and thanks for the other email 🙂
That Whole Foods looks so good! I’ve never heard of one with all that stuff…and beers ON TAP? I would be in heaven!
Love whole foods- ours is nowhere near that size! I have to stay away because I always end up spending $15 on a salad. That is a problem
Oh my god I am SWOOOONING. I want to EAT it. I need a Whole Foods nearby, the closest one is three hours!! I think I would just eat my lunch in granola every day there.
I am jealous of your new Whole Foods! It looks so inviting and pretty. We have one right across the street from my office (downtown Baltimore) which is great but:
1.) It’s small-ish
2.) Grocery stores in MD can’t sell alcohol, which is a major bummer because I love local wine/beer selections!
I cant wait to see what you do with those bulk sections!
Hi. I am in MD and have been to quite a few grocery stores that cell alcohol. I do know that they can’t sell on sundays, though. Have you tried Eddie’s?
Really??? Which ones, because as far as I know MD law prevents the sale of alcohol in grocery and convenience stores. Eddies is so yummy! I love that place. I did some googling and it looks like it also varies by county plus some places are grandfathered in (looks like eddie’s is one of them)…I do know of one random 7-11 out in Howard County that sells beer. It would just be SO nice to have beer and wine in Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods.
wow, this is awesome!! But such a tease!!! I wish we had something similar here in Aus. Cant wait to check out a wholefoods when I go to the US in 2 months. Squeeeee! Great post 🙂
Heidi xo
I love Whole Foods but they really are Whole Paycheck to me. Definitely a fun place to treat myself though, and I’m sure if I went frequently I would know what items to buy that were on sale or higher quality than other supermarkets.
Looks fantastic!
I lived in NYC when the Time Warner WF and Lower East Side ones had just opened (both were considered even more high-end than a regular WF), and I am so impressed that WF has taken that model of more specialty goodness with every new store it has opened 🙂
Ahh! I want a Whole Foods! I love health food stores. I could seriously browse for a whole day. You’re very lucky!
That Whole Foods looks amazing! I am so jealous – we don’t have one where I live in Canada. And I haev only been once in Miami and the stoer wasn’t near as nice as that one! Enjoy!
I’m surprised you had any time to get away. Dang that’s a pretty store! I’m glad you got to go check it out. Enjoy the rest of your day!
I’m so jealous!! I don’t have a WF or TJ for miles and miles….and miles……and miles!
WOW that Whole Foods looks amazing! Ours is kind of small.. but it is defintely bigger then your old one! Enjoy all of the new goodies in that store 🙂
oh that’s so exciting!
A SALT bar? I’m so jealous! Well, we do have a nice new WF here in Chi (along with two others, one that is a few blocks from my house, so yes, I am spoiled) but no salt bar 🙂
Fun day!
Wow, that WF is amazing! I haven’t been to either of the ones nearest us since they’re still a bit of a drive away, but I hope ours are as big and amazing as that!
Wow! I’m jealous! I don’t have any whole foods near me…well maybe like an hour and a half away but I don’t consider that near me. 😉
What a beautiful Whole Foods!!!
The whole foods looks great..we’ll never get one here in Rochester but we do have our Wegmans. what do you do with your leftovers? Are you stocking your freezer 🙂 after that fills you may want to consider donating to a local food bank and taking a business deduction!
We take them to the Blue Ridge Food Bank!
That’s awesome!
Good minds think alike!
oooh I am super jealous! Cant wait to visit a Whole Foods when I travel to the USA in 6 weeks time!
That WF is incredible! And I’ve even seen the flagship one in Austin!
I’m so jealous. Next time you’re in there, can you pass along the request for a store in Huntsville, AL? I’m sure they’ll listen to you. 😉
When I saw the Whole Foods last time I was in Charlottesville, I was less than impressed, but this new one looks SO AWESOME! I can’t wait to start shopping there in August!
Salt and dried mushroom bulk section?? This WF’s looks even MORE awesome than the giant one in Austin, TX!!
What a gorrgeous WF!!
Ugh, I cringe every time you tout whole foods. If you only knew the terrible lengths they have gone to in order to put smaller, local grocery stores out of business (they pulled some really awful things during a legal battle here in Oregon in order to obtain proprietary information about New Seasons Markets… when they weren’t even INVOLVED in the lawsuit) I would HOPE you wouldn’t love them nearly as much. Whole foods is the walmart of organic and natural groceries.
Well I still support Integral Yoga, Cville Market, the farmer’s market and more, so I feel I’m pretty well diversified and supportive of large + small
Ohhh… wine tasting mid-day?! You better hope your boss isn’t reading this. LOL!
Hahah
I was so excited when a Whole Foods opened near me a few years ago! It’s only five miles away but I wish it were closer- then again, I may not have any money left…
I’m so jealous…That Whole Foods looks amazing. There is only one in downtown Toronto and I live WAY out in the suburbs, so it’s definitely not convenient. We had another store open up called “Planet Organic” close to my work and it was like a mini Whole Foods. I would go 2 to 3 times a week! Well, of course, it closed down after a couple of years. I came home so upset the day I found out that it was closing and my husband couldn’t understand why! I miss it so much…
We have a whole foods in production! Right now it is a pile of ruble. I can not wait. Unfortunately, we don’t have another “old” whole foods in the mean time. I drive by it every day and just dream of the day it opens!
Ok, I’m just a little bit jealous. My nearest Whole Foods is 45 minutes away. (But I guess it keeps me from spending too much at the hot bar, like I likely would!)
I am sooo jealous, your new whole foods looks amazingggg!
& there is nothing better than good samples =]
Holy granola, batman! I’m jealous!
We are so beautiful in those shots – your skin is glowing and so clear.
Poor Matt – hope his back isn’t sore from the floor!
I wish WF’s existed near me – I’d love to try that Hot Bar – but I hear it’s uber-expensive – so it’s probably a good thing I don’t have it…I’m way too impulsive around food.
Wow that’s a pretty amazing Whole Foods, so jealous. I thought my local Whole Foods was amazing. But yours is even better.
I’m sure I’ll be sending you a “Welcome to the addicted to Whole Foods group” card soon 🙂
A+ work, Kath! I can’t wait to get back to the awesome WF near my parents’ house in Michigan this summer. A good WF really takes the cake, doesn’t it?
Store looks great! I’m loving that salt bar, their hickory smoked sea salt is seriously phenomenal and I’d love to try more!
I can’t wait to go! I’ll be back to the bakery again soon, my cinnamon chip loaf is all gone already!
I missed the opening last week (due to traveling) but wanted to say CONGRATS on the successful opening of your very own Great Harvest! Things seem to be going well and hopefully that will continue for you both. You guys definitely deserve it!
Thanks!
I love how you guys can just buy booze at the grocery store in the States.
“I’ll take some organic apples and a two-four, thank you very much.”
It’s so strange.
I recently went to a WF with a trail mix bar – it was amazzzing!
Looks awesome! You are so lucky. I am so happy that you were able to go, I would be just as excited
OMG so jealous! If only my town could somehow get a whole foods!
Ahhh I’m SO jealous! That sounds so amazing.. and I thought my WF was great!
I was at my Whole Foods the day it opened last year as well. I love the new stores and everything they have added. I’m sure you have the coffee bar as well and I highly suggest the pumpkin latte or the Peach Roobis Iced Tea!
WOW! I’m so jealous! That makes my Whole Foods look boring. 🙁
It looks amazing! I am obsessed with WF but really glad that the two local stores are a few miles drive and a several minutes of traffic away!
I wish we had a Whole Foods store near us!!! We have small health food stores, but nothing of the caliber of Whole Foods. You are so fortunate 🙂
It is funny how when I am in a Whole Foods store, or any kind of store of that nature, I get so excited, because I am encompassed by a plethora of healthy foods and such! It is all about obtaining optimal health!
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To say I’m jealous is an understatement. That Whole Foods sounds amazing! We don’t have one; our closest one is 75 miles away. I make the trip when I can, but I would LOVE to have one nearby!! Sigh. Maybe one day soon. 🙂
I am ridiculously jealous of your beautiful Whole Foods! The nearest one to us is 45 minutes away in the next city! I got “in trouble” trying to take photos there last year. Don’t they understand how much we love them?
Best beer bottle ever!
I am going to be working in a new Houston location!! We open June 22 😀 sooooo very excited! It is beyond words!
Whole Foods journalist- I can only think of one job better: Whole Foods taster!
SOOOOOOOO Jealous! I live in Canada where there isnt a whole foods in sight 🙁
Ahhhhhh I am SO jealous!!! At least Charlotte is finally getting one. In 2012. At least it’s not toooo far away…
Wow! Niiiiice! I’ve only been to whole foods twice since we’ve been down here.. I wasn’t super impressed the first time, I liked it a little more the second time… Now I just think I need to spend more time in the store looking around!
We are waiting for the GRAND OPENING of Trader Joe’s in Mt Pleasant! Stoked 😀
Wow, I didn’t realize Charlottesville was getting a new store! I live in Harrisonburg and can’t wait to check it out next time I am in the area. Love your blog and am also going to stop by your bakery on my next trip too 🙂