BELLEVUE, Wash., (July 29, 2015) – Whole Foods Market announced plans today to open a store in Kirkland, which will be the company’s 12th Washington location.
There are currently eight Whole Foods Market stores in Washington, with stores in development in the Capitol Hill neighborhood in Seattle, West Seattle and Bellingham. The Kirkland store will be 40,000 square feet and will be located in the mixed-use development at I-405 and NE 124th Street (formerly Totem Lake Malls). It is anticipated to open in the summer of 2017, and will be the first Whole Foods Market in Kirkland.
In addition to temporary construction jobs, the Kirkland Whole Foods Market will create an estimated 150 long-term jobs in the community.
“We’re so excited to be joining the community in Kirkland, and we look forward to sharing our mission and values with our new neighbors,” said Joe Rogoff, president of Whole Foods Market’s Pacific Northwest Region. “Creating jobs, supporting local producers and finding opportunities to partner with area schools and nonprofits are core to our philosophy and practices, and we’re eager to begin this work in Kirkland. In the next few months, we’ll be working very closely with the people of Kirkland to design a store experience that reflects the needs of the community.”
The developer for the project, CenterCal Properties, is a California-based retail development company that has been commissioned for the redevelopment of The Village at Totem Lake.
“Whole Foods Market will be a tremendous addition. The quality offering of Whole Foods Market will complement the redeveloped 800,000-square-foot project,” said Jean Paul Wardy, president of CenterCal Properties. “The Village at Totem Lake, a walkable, mixed-use community, will also include a theatre, residential, office and retail to serve the needs of this wonderful trade area.”
The new store will provide Kirkland shoppers with a community butcher, fishmonger, baker and a team of chefs creating prepared takeout meals, all under one roof.
Shoppers can look forward to fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, specialty items, high-quality meats and poultry, everyday pantry staples and sustainable seafood. The scratch bakery will provide a variety of breads and pastries made fresh daily, and the prepared foods department offers options for lunch, as well as quick meals for dinner.
Whole Foods Market has been ranked on FORTUNE magazine’s list of “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America since the list began in 1998. The company’s quality standards are outlined online at www.wholefoodsmarket.com.
