BELLEVUE, Wash., (Feb.11, 2015) – Whole Foods Market announced plans today to open a store in Bellingham, the company’s 11th Washington location.

There are currently seven stores in Washington, with locations in development at University Place, the Capitol Hill neighborhood in Seattle and West Seattle. This 50,000-square-foot store in Bellingham will be located at 1030 Lakeway Drive within the Lakeway Center development. The store is scheduled to open in summer 2016. It will be the first Whole Foods Market in Whatcom County.

In addition to numerous temporary construction jobs, the Bellingham Whole Foods Market will create an estimated 150 jobs in the community. 

“We’ve long believed that Bellingham is a wonderful fit for Whole Foods Market because the community’s values are so in line with our own,” said Joe Rogoff, president of Whole Foods Market’s Pacific Northwest Region. “Building healthy communities, supporting local producers and working in partnership with area schools and nonprofits are central to who we are, and we’re excited to share this with Bellingham. We look forward to serving the community by providing a wide selection of natural and organic food and an extensive selection of non-GMO-verified products.”

The new store will provide Bellingham shoppers with a community butcher, fishmonger, baker and a team of chefs creating prepared take-out 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 at www.wholefoodsmarket.com.