As downtown Miami prepares for its Whole Foods Market to open Wednesday, January 14, more information is being shared on what will make this particular store unique.
The 41,000-square-foot space, located at 299 SE Third St., will be the Austin, Texas-based company's 22nd location in Florida. But what sets it apart from the rest of the upscale chain's stores is the nod to the tastes of Miami's population, which range from fresh juices to a healthy dose of pork.
See also: Jugofresh to Open in Downtown Whole Foods Market
The market has partnered with several local purveyors, farms, restaurants, and suppliers to offer a Miami-centric shopping and dining experience.
Jugofresh will open a store-within-a-store at the location, serving a full range of the company's cold-pressed juices, along with smoothies and raw vegan bites curated by the juice bar's chef, Darren Laszlo.
Also notable is the announcement that Versailles, the iconic Calle Ocho restaurant, will supply the market with healthful variations of its classic Cuban cuisine. Shoppers can also take home Brazilian-style churrasco barbecue and sides from La Churrascaria; a "monsieur cubano" sandwich that features roast pork and cotto ham on French brioche; fresh sushi, Hawaiian poke, and Peruvian ceviche rice bowls from Sushi Maki; watermelon fresco from Juicera; coconut-lime U RAWk Raw Energy Bars; and Happy Sour scented candles from the South Beach Candle Company.
In addition to these special local items, Whole Foods will offer a soup bar with 26 daily items, a large selection of craft beers and wines, fresh sausage made in-house, and pizzas made onsite.
A café with indoor and outdoor seating features a mural by local street artist Kazilla that pays tribute to Florida's Tequesta tribe, and the store boasts a parking garage with 140 designated spaces for shoppers complete with murals by 10 local artists, including Monz.
Whole Foods Market will open daily at 7:30 a.m. The grand-opening celebration January 14 will kick off at 8:45 a.m. with a bread-breaking ceremony. The first 500 customers in line opening day will also receive mystery gift cards, valued at $5, $10, $20 or $50, with one card valued at $500.
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