EMERYVILLE, Calif. (Feb. 3, 2010) – Whole Foods Market will open its fifth San Francisco store at 690 Stanyan Street in the Upper Haight on Wednesday, February 16, at 8 a.m. Store leadership will host a bread-breaking ceremony at 9:45 a.m., which will involve cutting a sourdough baguette. A loan check for $47,480 will be presented to Marin’s Rustic Bakery, the latest recipient of Whole Foods Market’s Local Producer Loan Program (LPLP).
“Whole Foods Market is so excited to be part of the historic and diverse Haight Ashbury neighborhood,” said Jen Cash, store team leader, Whole Foods Market Haight. “We look forward to being a trusted neighborhood resource where residents can learn about healthy eating, pick up nutritious and delicious foods for their families, select a great bottle of wine and enjoy many healthful on-the-go dining options.”
San Francisco residents are invited to celebrate the opening at the store’s “Good Food Celebration,” on Sunday, February 13, from 12 noon to 4 p.m. This event will be held in the parking lot and feature ethnic foods from La Cocina members and an assortment of specialty beers from neighborhood favorite Magnolia Brewery, among others. Admission is free and all food items are priced under $5. All profits made from beer sales will go directly back to La Cocina to support its incubator programs for low income food entrepreneurs.
The 21,000-square-foot store was built within the former Cala Foods building. Décor elements include locally reclaimed redwood used throughout the store as well as a reused gym floor reclaimed from DeAnza High School in Richmond; exterior tile mural at the entrance created by Kids Serve and 50 percent recycled content tile, from Healdsburg, is used throughout the store. Green store design elements include glycol refrigeration system; a reflective roof and glass dairy doors with LED lights.
Highlights that Whole Foods Market Haight shoppers can look forward to enjoying include:
- Local Vendors – a wide range of products from more than 250 local Bay Area vendors (within 100 miles or less of San Francisco) will be featured including these new local, artisan vendors:
o Whole Foods Market “Street Eats” – features products from San Francisco street food vendors including Magic Curry Cart, Chai Cart, King of Currywurst, Bicycle Coffee Company, Empandas de mi Pueblo and El Porteño Empanadas and HapaSF.
o Paulie’s Picking — crunchy pickles produced in Bernal Heights.
o Lovers Lane Farm Honey – North Coast wildflower honey from Ukiah.
o Ceres Community Project – sauerkraut salads from Sebastopol non-profit; a 2011 Good Food Awards winner.
o Scream Sorbet – intensely flavored sorbets and sorbet sandwiches from Oakland featuring local ingredients.
o Rocket Ship Ice Cream – organic, vegan ice cream made in San Francisco by Sarah Smart, former assistant pastry chef at Millennium restaurant.
o Rancho Gordo – fresh and rare heirloom beans grown in Northern California.
o Azalina – La Cocina vendor specializing in Malaysian coconut jam, coriander peanut sauce and braised, roasted star anise curry sauces.
o Wholesome Bakery – delicious organic baked goods by Mandy Harper from Bernal Heights.
o Durate’s — wonderful frozen fruit pies from Pescadero.
o Numa Snacks — wholesome snacks for expectant and nursing moms made in San Francisco.
o HapaSF – modern, organic casual Filipino cuisine blended with California sensibilities from San Francisco.
o Bobbilicious Baking Company – Gluten-free cookie company by Bobbi Cohen from Fairfax.
o Suki’s Naanwich – frozen Indian entrées from Hayward.
o Papalote Salsa – the famous San Francisco salsa that defeated Iron Chef Bobby Flay in Food Network’s Throwdown! with Bobby Flay.
o Love & Hummus – La Cocina vendor specializing in hummus and recently featured on the Food Network.
o Cook Soups – local soup company from Oakland.
o Luke’s Local – entrees and salads with ingredients from local farms (e.g., beet salad, pasta, mixed green, lasagna, baked halibut, crab mac n’ cheese) from San Mateo.
o Sutton Cellars – wine and vermouth from Dogpatch’s Carl Sutton. The vermouth is nationally recognized as one of the best and is infused with seventeen botanicals.
o Coffee and Tea – From San Francisco: Ritual Roasters, Four Barrel Coffee, Bicycle Coffee, Philz Coffee; San Rafael’s Weaver’s Coffee and Mighty Leaf Tea; Emeryville’s Peet’s Coffee and Oakland’s Numi Tea.
- Meat – large meat counter with special offerings including local Panorama organic 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef and Country Natural grain-finished beef from cattle that have never been in a feedlot. Also available will be locally-raised Field to Family air-chilled chicken, and local Pozzi grass-fed lamb. The store offers the best-tasting, freshest and highest-quality meat available that is carefully raised without antibiotics or added growth hormones*. By May 9, all beef, pork and chicken carried in the fresh and pre-packaged cases at all Whole Foods Market stores in the U.S. will be rated to Global Animal Partnership’s animal welfare standards.
- Artisan Bakery – featuring Whole Foods Market artisan hearth breads, brownie bar, cakes, cupcakes and raw and vegan treats. Also not to be missed are treats from area bakeries including Rustic Bakery flatbreads and cookies; Mission Minis cupcake and La Cocina vendor Sabores del Sur Alfajores (dulce de leche shortbread cookies).
- Prepared Foods – featuring an extensive selection of foods made by a team of talented, in-house chefs. Specialties include a daily selection of house-made soups, extensive salad bar and full-service burrito bar, sandwiches, pizzas and charcuterie. A wonderful array of healthful and tasty lunch options will be available on a daily basis, including a variety of nutrient-rich items like quinoa, brown rice and kale.
- Kombucha – Santa Cruz-based Kombucha Botanica’s Healthy Living Tonic™ will be available on tap.
- Seafood – large seafood counter featuring a vast array of fresh and frozen selections, as well as all the marinades, sauces, seasonings and herbs to complete a meal with seafood as the centerpiece. Whole Foods Market also offers a selection of sustainable seafood certified by the Marine Stewardship Council and ranked by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program.
- Beer and Wine – over 400 wines and over 200 beers are featured.
- Coffee Bar – freshly-brewed espresso and coffee daily from Allegro. ®
- Nut Butters – grind-your-own organic and almond nut butters.
- Bulk Section – a 30-foot, organically focused bulk department will feature a variety of bulk bins brimming with legumes, grains, flours, nuts and seeds.
- In-Store Dining – outside seating for casual dining.
- Store Tours –shopping tours tailored to special diets such as gluten-free living and store tours for moms, as well tours themed for how to shop on a budget, are available. Private tours can be arranged by request for organizations such as schools and senior centers.
- Health, Wellness & Food – Whole Foods Market works hard to stay on top of food and health issues and to educate its customers on healthy eating. Whole Foods Market private label supplements and body care products offer customers exceptional quality at a value price.
- Whole Foods Market Community Giving Days — at least four times a year, Whole Foods Market sets aside a day on which five percent of the day's net sales is contributed to a local 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The next community giving day will be in March and benefit Kids Serve.
- Nickels for Nonprofits – when customers bring in their own bags for groceries they have the option of receiving a five-cent refund (per bag) or donating the money to a selected charity. The first non-profit beneficiaries are the Boys and Girls Club, Whole Planet Foundation and Women's Community Clinic.
- Donations Out the Back – perishable products that aren’t sold during the day are donated to those in need. Whole Foods Market Stanyan is proud to work with FoodRunners.
- · Kid’s Club – children ages 2 through 8 are eligible to complete a scavenger hunt to receive a free treat.
Store Information Whole Foods Market San Francisco – Haight Store 690 Stanyan Street San Francisco, CA 94117 Tel. (415) 876-6740 Hours: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Store Team Leader: Jen Cash Website: www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/haight Facebook: www.facebook.com/HaightTwitter: www.twitter.com/WFMhaight *Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones in raising pork and poultry.
### WHOLE FOODS MARKET HAIGHT FEBRUARY CALENDAR Lunchtime Taco Truck, Wed., Feb. 9 – 11 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Yummy grilled cheese sandwiches, soup and salad will be available for purchase from Whole Foods Market taco truck in the parking lot.
Valentine’s Day Flower Sale, Sat., Feb. 12 & Sun., Feb. 13 from 12 – 4 p.m. A wonderful assortment of flowers and Whole Trade™ roses will be on sale in the store’s parking lot. Twenty five percent of the day’s sales will be donated to the Grattan School’s Edible School Garden.
Good Food Celebration, Sun. Feb. 13 from 12 noon – 4 p.m. Residents are invited to the “Good Food Celebration” on Sunday, February 13, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event will be held in the parking lot and feature ethnic foods from La Cocina members and an assortment of specialty beers from neighborhood favorite Magnolia Brewery, among others. Admission is free and all food items are priced under $5. All profits made from beer sales will go directly back to La Cocina to support its incubator programs for low income food entrepreneurs.
Wed., Feb. 16: Whole Foods Market Haight Opening Day 8 a.m. Store Opens; 9:45 a.m. – Bread breaking Join our regional and store leadership for a traditional breaking of bread to celebrate the opening of our new store. Additionally, a $47,480 loan check will be presented to Marin’s Rustic Bakery, the latest recipient of Whole Foods Market’s Local Producer Loan Program (LPLP).
