Whole Foods Market to open Wednesday

LOWER GWYNEDD » The North Wales store we first learned to love as Fresh Fields back in the early ’90s closed its doors for good on Sunday, making way for a Whole Foods Market debut in Spring House at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

“We have customers that have supported us all these years and I think they will be in awe when they get to Spring House,” said store manager Drew Goldschmidt, who had managed the North Wales store for the last three years.

Like the rest of the North Wales crew, he is making the transition to the new store at 1111 N. Bethlehem Pike, Spring House, which is nearly twice the size, offering amenities galore that would not have been possible without the move to a new location.

“People loved the employees at North Wales and they’re all coming to Spring House, plus we added another 50 people, who shoppers can trust to help them get their products. That was always a big thing at North Wales and we hope to bring that to Spring House,” said Goldschmidt, who is well acquainted with the 39-year-old upscale chain’s growth and innovations, having helped launch the Plymouth Meeting Mall store in 2010.

Surrounding customers with transparency regarding what they’re buying is a trend that’s been amplified by the potential of the new space, he allowed.

“We always try to one-up the next store and do better, especially when thinking about the shopper’s convenience, with our grab-and-go-items and new self-serve pizza. We understand

SUBMITTED PHOTO Whole Foods Market opens Wednesday in Spring House.