I have a partnership with Whole Foods Market and was compensated for my work, but all works and opinions are my own.
I visited the new Whole Foods Gainesville Grand Opening!
Before we moved from Ft. Lauderdale to Gainesville last summer, we discussed some of the locations we would miss. There’s the obvious beach that we only visited a few times a year, our favorite gym, and a few other places… but the biggest change of all in terms of businesses was the loss of Whole Foods. We had several Whole Foods locations by us: Coral Springs, Davie, Pembroke Pines, Ft. Lauderdale, Aventura, Pompano Beach, Boca Raton, you get the idea. But then something amazing happened. In Butler Plaza on Archer Road near 34th Street, they opened Whole Foods Gainesville. The Grand Opening was May 9th, and I was so excited to be there the first time the doors opened!
Before the store even opened, Lydia and I took a sneak peak inside to see how awesome it was – We were just so excited about getting our first Whole Foods Market in our town of Gainesville, Florida!
Whole Foods Gainesville Media Night, May 7th
Two days before the official grand opening, local influencers were invited to the Whole Foods Gainesville Media Night. This was an opportunity for us to walk the store, meet the area marketing specialists, managers, and other team members, and learn about how Whole Foods supports local businesses. Whole Foods has always placed an emphasis on sustainability, animal welfare, and donating to local charities, and these messages rang clearly during our walk-through.
I was excited to try so many of the new products for the first time that were not available at other Whole Foods Markets I had visited. I will share some of those with you later in the post!
Whole Foods Gainesville Grand Opening, May 9th
So if you’ve never been to a Whole Foods Market before {first off, my sincerest apologies}, this would be an awesome store to visit because they really do have everything here! I’m going to walk you through some of my favorite features, some of which are present at all Whole Foods Markets and some of which I’ve only found at Whole Foods Gainesville.
Whole Foods Cheese Selection
If somehow you did not know this, Whole Foods has an amazing cheese selection. Not only that, they often have a sample or two out to try. They carry cheeses from around the world, and their team members are always incredibly knowledgeable, so if you have any questions at all, feel free to ask. A few other important things you should know:
- If you’d like to try something new, they will cut off a piece of a wrapped up piece of cheese just for you to try it. No obligation to purchase.
- If you want a small piece of cheese and they only have big pieces cut, you can ask them to cut a larger piece into a smaller piece for you.
- There’s usually a little basket sitting out with smaller bits of cheese. This is a great way to take home a new cheese you’ve never tried before!
Whole Foods Fresh Flower Shop
I jumped to the back of the store because cheese is one of my favorites, but when you first enter Whole Foods Gainesville, you will be greeted by the beautiful fresh Flower Shop. Bouquets of roses, potted orchids, and more are available to purchase in vibrant colors!
Whole Foods Ramen Bar and Self-Serve Pizza
I didn’t get to try the Ramen Bar on Media Night or at the Grand Opening, so of course I had to come back the following day for dinner with my family to try it. I got the spicy veggie bowl with the traditional broth {this is actually pork-based}. It was filled with delicious noodles, seaweed, vegetables, mushrooms, an egg, and more. A little extra sriracha, and this made a delicious dinner! I suggest you try it with a cup of hibiscus bubble tea, also available at the ramen bar. This ramen bar is right across from the hot bar, which serves international food, and salad bar, all of which you can purchase by the pound.
Adjacent to the Ramen Bar is the Self-Serve Pizza area, where are variety of traditional and square pizzas are prepared. With meat-lover, vegetarian, and vegan options available, there’s definitely something for everyone! The pizza is $3.50 per slice of 2 for $6, so grab two slices for a tasty dinner!
Whole Foods Acai Bowls and Steel Cut Oatmeal
Are you looking to grab a quick, easy, nutritious, and delicious breakfast that takes just seconds to prepare? Whole Foods Gainesville has two awesome options: Acai Bowls and Steel Cut Oatmeal. The Acai Bowls are weighed by the pound {like the hot bar and salad bar} and you can add a variety of toppings, like seeds and fruit, to make a well-balanced meal.
Whole Foods Cold-Pressed Juice and Coffee Bar
Last but not least, Whole Foods Gainesville has two amazing self-serve drink options. The first is the cold-pressed juice bar. I tried the deep beet, apple, and pineapple, and all three were amazing! You can fill up a 16-ounce bottle for $8 with a single juice or by combining more than one juice to create your favorite blend.
And this final feature is totally awesome! There are three DIY coffee bar machines. One prepares standard coffee and iced coffee, one prepares fancy barista-style coffee drinks using dairy products, and one creates fancy coffee drinks with two non-dairy options {almond and coconut milk}. The machines can also make hot chocolate, perfect for the cooler weather we had here for about 6 months!
If you live in the Gainesville, Florida area – home to the University of Florida – I highly suggest you check out the new Whole Foods Market! It’s a great place to do your entire grocery shopping, pick up breakfast or lunch, or enjoy dinner with your family in the café area. With so many great in-store features, there’s something new to check out each time you visit!
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