US (FL): Whole Foods opens to an enthusiastic crowd
About 9 p.m. the night before, 29-year-old University of South Florida public health student Melanie Marshall of Clearwater piled her homework onto a table and settled in for a sleepless night just outside the natural food retailer's doors.
Joseph Camerieri, 50, of Dunedin — with a pillow and a homemade sign to hold his place should he need to step away — also kept vigil overnight.
"This is a big thrill for me," said Camerieri, a gluten-intolerant television production assistant who runs GF Joe, a gluten-free Clearwater bakery, part time. He has been incorporating Whole Foods almond milk, gluten-free flour and organic produce into his recipes for years.
"I'm excited that it finally comes to my neighbourhood instead of driving to Tampa. So I'll be spending all my time here instead of at that other store with a 'P,' " he joked, referring to Publix, before posing for photos with the first five in a line of 700 that wrapped around the corner.
On hand to greet them and the new 38,000-square-foot Whole Foods was a bevy of store executives and local dignitaries. The store, on the first floor of what used to be part of a Sears store at Westfield Countryside mall, is the 21st Florida store and the 397th for the international chain.
Whole Foods is known for its ecofriendly approach as much as the vast salad bar, hot food bar and soup selection, along with products such as organic milk, grass-fed beef and whole-grain foods.
But officials also stressed their commitment to community Wednesday.
After giving a speech praising the arrival of 213 new jobs and improved health options, Clearwater Mayor George Cretekos was presented a $40,000 check on behalf of Whole Kids Foundation, which will distribute the funds to city schools that apply for school garden and salad bar grants. The store is also donating 1 percent of net sales during the first five days of operation to five local nonprofits.
Officials broke loaves of bread for good luck before Whole Foods Florida regional leader Juan Nunez announced that "we are open for business" and welcomed the crushing throng.
"It was kind of like Black Friday," said Mark Marano, 35, of Palm Harbor.
"We finally got one!" rejoiced Gail Gaffney as she exited with five paper bags piled high with soap, food and other goods.
And she hopes another speciality grocer is taking note.
"Trader Joe's," said Gaffney, 54, of Palm Harbor. "Maybe they'll look at this and say, 'Hmmmmm.' "
Source: tampabay.com
