Whole Foods looks to January opening
WEST WHITELAND » Shoppers waiting for Whole Foods Market in Exton to open won’t have to wait much longer. The company announced Tuesday the store will open on Jan. 18.
“We’re excited to welcome Exton’s growing community to this new Whole Foods Market, which includes ample inside and outside spaces for family and friends to gather,” said Alison Marcantuno, the store team leader. “From our fresh produce and flowers to oven-ready, grab-and-go and prepared foods meal solutions, the store will offer fresh and healthy options for Exton shoppers.”
The upscale grocer that was recently purchased by Amazon said opening day shoppers are invited to attend the traditional bread-breaking ceremony at 8:45 a.m. and will be greeted with door buster deals and an array of product demonstrations and samples.
The 50,000-square-foot store includes:
• Pike’s, an in-store venue with a retro diner ambiance, serving tortas and tacos as well as beer, wine and a selection of mezcal & tequila.
• More than 75 local supplier products ranging from seasonal produce to local pork and chicken and a unique selection of ceramics, jewelry and gifts.
• An expansive cheese department featuring exclusive local cheeses from Yellow Springs Dairy in Chester Springs, as well as a robust national and international selection of sheep, goat and cow’s milk offerings.
• Full-service meat and seafood departments featuring Global Animal Partnership 5 Step Animal Welfare-rated meat and sustainable seafood staffed by expert meat cutters and fishmongers.
• Made in-house specialties including: hand-tossed pizza, corn & flour tortillas and tortilla chips made with local Castle Valley Mill grains, and a selection of dips such as rutabaga, collard green, and guacamole.
• A large, seasonal rooftop with a fire pit where customers can enjoy food and draft beer.
When the store opens in January, it will be about 2½ years from when it was originally announced to be coming to Exton. The owner of the property and adjacent Exton Square Mall, Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, or PREIT, said in July 2015 that it would tear down an existing Kmart and re-
place it with a Whole Foods. At the time, PREIT said the Whole Foods would open in 2017. Whole Foods will be leasing the space from PREIT under the arrangement.
The grocer has not commented on what led to the delay in the opening but in June it was announced Amazon was buying Whole Foods for $13.7 billion. The deal closed in August.
Whole Foods is one of several additions at the mall meant to meet changing
consumer habits. The other major change at Exton Square Mall was the opening of a Round 1 entertainment center in a former JC Penney department store.
Nationwide, many department store chains have closed locations due to the popularity of online shopping.
A spokeswoman for Whole Foods, Rachael Dean Wilson, said there is as yet no opening date set for another area Whole Foods that’s been in the works for a while, in Ellis Preserve at Newtown Square, Delaware County.
Whole Foods Market Exton
will be hiring approximately 125 team members for positions throughout the store. Interested candidates should visit wholefoodsmarket.com/careers to apply or stop by hiring events at the Exton Square Mall this week: Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and December 8
from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Prospective candidates can also Text “Hire Me” to 610-6248686 for more information.