Sip ’n shop at Lucky’s Market

Ready for the big bacon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday when Lucky’s Market opens in Oakland Park?

I am. Just like many other Broward eastsiders.

The store at 1033 E. Oakland Park Blvd. will be the affordable organic grocery chain’s third South Florida location. Other stores are in Coral Springs and Plantation.

The 10 a.m. grand opening ceremony includes cutting of a 10-pound slab of bacon with a ninja knife, samples galore and live music. Lucky’s also will donate more than $10,000 to the nonprofit The Humanity Project anti-bullying program, PACE Center for Girls and the Broward Partnership for the Homeless.

I popped into to see how things were coming along at the store on Friday (it doesn’t look ready from the outside), and an army of workers were busy stocking shelves and putting the finishing touches on renovations of the long-empty Pearl Art & Craft building. Heavy equipment was rolling through the muddy parking lot, too.

Store director Jason Rief says Lucky’s will be open, rain or shine.

“Customers can expect to sample a lot of our specialty foods such as the in-house smoked bacon, smoked turkey breast and juices. There will also be live demos,” says Rief, of Coconut Creek. “We are going to have great deals on produce and sales in the meat department and deli. And of course wine samplings.” Hello! The Colorado-based grocer encourages customers to “sip and stroll” with beer or wine sold in the cafe (grocery carts have cup holders!) while jamming to live music. The hip concept is a cross between a brewery, a farmer’s market and the winning ideas behind several popular grocery chains all packed into one 30,000-square-foot store.

“Lucky’s offers a different experience for customers. It’s more about eating and drinking than a shopping,” Rief says. “Stop and grab a $2 pint or $3 glass of wine and make the grocery-shopping chore a fun experience. Lucky’s is centered around flavors, quality and great prices.”

The chain joins Oakland Park’s thriving culinary arts district on Dixie Highway north of Oakland Park Boulevard, which includes the Funky Buddha Brewery. The brewhouse specialties just happen to be on tap in Lucky’s cafe. Coldpressed nitro brew coffee is for sale, too.

Lucky’s smokes its own meats and makes fresh sausages. There’s a pizzeria, fresh juice, ramen and sushi bars, and