Business & Tech
Whole Foods Opens in Lynnwood Today
Questions about beer, wine and hard cider? Kat Jenison of Edmonds will be on hand to help.
Today, when Whole Foods Market opens its first store in Snohomish County, in Lynnwood, Kat Jenison will finally be able to help customers sort through a large selection of 200 beers, 650 wines and a large stock of hard cider.
Jension, who lives in Edmonds, oversees that part of the store, which also includes charcuterie products and specialty foods such as cheese and olives. All are available for sampling under the store’s “Try Me” program.
“We have a generous sampling policy,” says Jenison, who has been with the company since 2009 and last worked in Redmond.
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Whole Foods is located at 2800 196th St. SW at the site of the former Circuit City. It opens today at 9 a.m., with festivities and a bread-breaking ceremony starting at 8 a.m. Lynnwood Mayor Don Gough and members of the Snohomish County Economic Alliance will join Whole Foods Market store leadership to cut the traditional eight-foot long sourdough bread and welcome shoppers into the store.
Whole Foods joins two other organic and natural food store chains in south Snohomish County. Edmonds shoppers have , which opened in September 2008 at 100th Avenue West and Edmonds Way in Westgate. And Central Market opened in September 2004 in Mill Creek.
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Whole Foods knows that it has to fight its perception as offering only expensive items. Twice during a tour last week of the new store, two managers acknowledged the public’s use of the term “whole paycheck” to describe their store, but said they are working to combat that. For example, milk is a low-cost leader at $3.99 a gallon. In addition, the store has its own brand, 365 Everyday Value.
“We’re sensitive to that,” said Leslie Jacobs, who manages the body care section. “But we have specials, and our everyday (365 Everyday Value) products are low-priced. We also have four-day sales where products are at least 40 percent off.”
Whole Foods Market is at 2800 196th St. SW, Lynnwood. Hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with the coffee bar opening at 7 a.m. For more information, go to the store's Web site or call 425-775-1320.
The first 100 visitors on Thursday will receive a free baguette to symbolize the bread breaking as well as a reusable shopping bag. Grand-opening festivities will also include music from the Lynnwood High School band, free coffee, breakfast and samples all day.