October 14, 2016
Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice
The new 62,000 sq. ft Whole Foods Market opened Friday, Oct. 14 on Pennsylvania Ave. The store includes a large, sunny coffee bar which was bustling all morning on opening day.
Philly's newest Whole Foods Market opened Friday, Oct. 14, and was greeted by thousands of enthusiastic shoppers and gawkers.
A massive crowd turned up to see what the new store — at 2101 Pennsylvania Ave., site of the old Best Western — had to offer. Short answer: a lot. There is a pub serving food and booze, a large to-go beer section, four miniature versions of Philly restaurants (like Dizengoff and Cheu noodle bar), a huge cafe and lots of seating.
Take a look.
The massive prepared foods area at the 'Philly City Center' Whole Foods Market
The Charcuterie, or deli.
The pub inside the store serves beer, wine, cocktails and food.
The new coffee bar at Whole Foods is completely separate from the groceries, allowing customers to buy coffee without walking into the main part of the store.
Another new addition is a juice bar.
There is a large selection of beer-to-go sold at the new Whole Foods Market.
In the expanded seafood department, a wild-caught swordfish was available as 'cut-to-order.'
Many options of local produce are available, including a large section from the Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative.
More varities of produce are available than at the previous location.
Butchers in a fancy display case are available to provide, 'Any cut, any size (at) any time.'
CHeU Noodle Bar.
Elaine Gardner mixes Israeli salad at the Dizengoff restaurant.
One major issue is on the accessibility front. There is only one elevator (which was out of service for most of the morning) to get from street level to the shopping area. This required a small group of employees to help carry strollers up and down the three sets of stairs. Many people with restricted mobility had a hard time accessing the store.
This location really stepped up its prepared foods game.
The fresh pasta and cheese section.
There are large indoor and outdoor seating areas, many of which have access to elecrtical outlets.
