New Zealand Lamb

Photo Tour of Whole Foods Market's New Flagship Mid-Atlantic Store | McLean, Virginia

Photo Tour of Whole Foods Market's New Flagship store in the Mid-Atlantic | Tysons Corner in McLean, Virginia

Whole Foods Market recently opened its new Mid-Atlantic flagship store in Tysons Corner located at McLean, Virginia, just outside of Washington, DC. Naturally, I needed to see the retailer’s ‘fanciest store yet’ as reported by The Washingtonian, and lucky for me, it’s super close by.

The new store is located at 1635 Boro Place, McLean, Virginia in The Boro, a new residential + commercial development by The Meridian Group and Kettler Inc. is designed for work, play and mingle and includes luxury residences, destination retail, and distinguished office spaces. With 70,000 square-foot, multi-level flagship store is a community gathering destination featuring a trendy food hall, cocktail bar, game area, outdoor patio and a self-service wine bar.

Wow; what a gorgeous store! Given that so much of my shopper research and public relations work focuses on Whole Foods Market, I’m very familiar with the different types of store formats across North America. The latest stores opened by Whole Foods Market have (and there have been several in the past few months,) are so much more than just a nice grocery store; they really are meant to be community gathering spaces. It’s the kind of place you could spend several hours at for not only grocery shopping, but also dining and socializing. I think this store is now one of my favorite locations (from a design, amenity & shopper journey perspective,) along with Midtown Atlanta, Georgia, Post Oak in Houston, Texas and the Gilman store in Berkeley, California.

Below is a photo tour of my first visit to the new Tysons store.

This store is HUGE and everything is just gorgeous. I conduct a lot of shopper-research based USA Market Tours for exporters from other countries and also Supermarket Tours for local embassies in Washington, DC who have visiting delegations of farmers or food industry businesspeople eager to learn more about grocery retail in the USA. I’ll now have a sparkly, new place to bring them that’s super convenient.

I spotted several kid-friendly areas around the store, including this super cute Whole Kids Club area offering free snacks for kids shopping in the store.

I love the design of this store; so bright and cheery.

I visited this store the week of November 10th, 2019, so holiday entertaining (Thanksgiving turkey promo) signage was in full effect.

Since I work a lot with the meat category, I was especially excited to see the meat department. Everything looked perfect! Note the new black window cling along the top of the meat case featuring my client, Global Animal Partnership’s new animal welfare certified label.

Spotted several of my clients’ products, including Atkins Ranch grass fed lamb, whose lamb loin chops were currently on sale for Amazon Prime Members.

Lots of turkeys already available, ahead of ‘turkey day,’ Thanksgiving. Nice to see the new Global Animal Partnership animal welfare certified label!

For all my honey industry folks, have a look at the honey range available here. For American standards, this is a wide selection of Manuka honey (see top shelf.)

Beautiful packaging!

Welcome to cheese Heaven, featuring some of the best cheese from around the world.

Upstairs is High Point, a 100-seat indoor/outdoor pub and game room offering several self-serve food options. This is the main gathering place. I visited the store during late morning, but come lunch time, this place was packed!

I spotted a mom’s group here fueling up on coffee and probably then later, wine. It’s the perfect spot to meet with friends. When the weather is warmer, the outdoor patio area has lots of seating, including children’s tables.

The food hall includes Officina, Genji Izakaya, Curiosity Doughnuts and Rappahannock Oyster Co.

Have you visited this new Whole Foods Market store, or perhaps one of the other new stores opened during 2019? What were your impressions? Leave a comment below to share your thoughts; I’m curious to know what you think.

According to WBJ Research, Whole Foods Market is the ninth-largest grocer in the greater Washington DC area, with 4.46% market share in 2018. The Tysons store is the grocery retailer’s 10th location in Northern Virginia.


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Purchase our syndicated research report, How to Win with Whole Foods Market Shoppers here. 

- Lisa Mabe-Konstantopoulos, CEO, Green Purse PR


Photo Tour of Whole Foods Market's 500th Store | Midtown Atlanta, Georgia

Photo Tour of Whole Foods Market's 500th Store | Midtown Atlanta, Georgia

While in Atlanta over Easter break, I visited the newly opened Midtown Atlanta location of Whole Foods Market. I needed to see first hand the retailer’s 500th milestone store. It’s gotten quite a lot of good publicity and features some fun, new amenities.

Located at 22 14th Street NW in Related Group’s Icon Midtown residential development, the new 70,000 square-foot, multi-level flagship store is a community gathering destination featuring four fast-casual eateries and more than 1,500 local items from 250 suppliers, many new to Whole Foods Market.

I visited early Saturday morning, the day before Easter. It was super peaceful before the crowds came to get their pre-Easter #WholeFoodsHaul on. Since it was early and I LOVE Allegro coffee (iced latte every day for me,) my first stop was Capital Commons, a cozy full-service Allegro coffee and espresso bar. They are early risers too; the cafe opens at 6 AM daily.

Below are some photos of the new Midtown store.

The fresh fruit and veg section is super colorful and pretty!

Look who I spotted on the Prime Member Deals board at the entrance of the store — our client, Atkins Ranch lamb from New Zealand! Nice to see Wellshire Farms’ ham on there as well — both meat brands are animal welfare certified by Global Animal Partnership.

Photo source: Atlanta Curbed

Huge meat department with gorgeous display on for Easter and Passover. I like to see those butcher case clings featuring Global Animal Partnership’s 10 year anniversary!

Look what’s featured front and center — Atkins Ranch leg of lamb, during its nationwide promo with Amazon Prime. Normally $9.99 USD per pound (in this region) for leg of lamb, the sale offered leg of lamb at just $6.99 USD per pound for Amazon Prime members. The team of butchers in this store made a gorgeous display of lamb!

Atkins Ranch’s retail ready lamb cuts are new to the South region of Whole Foods Market. Super convenient for shoppers who want to quickly grab and go.

I spy some good looking beef from White Oak Pastures, local to Georgia.

Check out these new meal kits, mostly with meat and some with fish, with some calling out “keto” or “paleo.” Very cool.

Here’s what you’ll find on the roof of the new store. There’s a space for games, eating and even yoga.

Photo source: Curbed Atlanta

Photo source: Curbed Atlanta

Curious to learn more about Whole Foods Market shoppers?

Download our report, How to Win with Whole Foods Market Shoppers here.

- Lisa Mabe-Konstantopoulos, CEO, Green Purse PR

You may also be interested in our blog post, What Amazon Prime Members Think About New Lower Prices at Whole Foods Market. Read it here.