EDGEWATER — Whole Foods Market's newest location was buzzing with activity Thursday as employees rushed to stock shelves and perfect a collection of specialty stations, including a wood-fired barbecue grill, meat smokers and full bar, before opening day next week.
The grocery store at 6009 N. Broadway will open 9 a.m. Wednesday after a short grand opening ceremony.
"This is definitely one of our larger stores," said Allison Phelps, a Whole Foods spokeswoman, during an exclusive tour of the 54,000-square-foot grocer with DNAinfo Chicago.
Whole Foods took over the former Dominick's last year.
An exclusive first look at the interior of the new Whole Foods in Edgewater. (all photos by DNAinfo/Benjamin Woodard)
The store includes the Broadway and Norwood Cafe, which includes seating and serves pasta, grilled cheese sandwiches and wine by the glass near the west side of the store. On the east side, customers will find the Red Star Diner with 24 beers on tap, including Edgewater American Pale Ale — brewed exclusively for the store by Ravenswood's Begyle Brewing Co.
Other beers include Evil Twin Brewing’s Mission Gose, Stone Brewing Company’s Russian Imperial Stout and Goose Island Beer Company’s Bourbon County Proprietors and Vanilla Rye
The bar also will serve cocktails.
Mike Kilgore, Whole Food's beer and bar manager for the region, hustled Thursday to get the store's selection of 900 beers set up.
"I got the fun job, I'd say," he said.
On the south wall of the store, customers will find lots of food ready to order, including seafood, cheese, and smoked meat from one of its commercial, indoor smokers.
There's also a wood-fired barbecue grill, ramen and stir-fry station and a store-made naan and pita station.
Chicago artist Aaron Wooten completed a mural of Edgewater above the coolers for dairy and juice.
The first 500 customers Wednesday morning will receive a Whole Foods Market gift card with a $5-$50 value. One card will be worth $500.
The Edgewater location is the fourth of seven Whole Foods Markets that are planned to open in the Chicago area this year.
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