Whole Foods Market has expanded its presence in Louisiana, officially opening its new Broad Street store in New Orleans on Tuesday, February 4th. The grand opening, marked by a traditional bread-breaking ceremony at 8:15 a.m., also included the announcement of a garden grant and new foundation initiatives, underscoring Whole Foods Market’s commitment to the New Orleans community right from the start. Located at the corner of Broad and Bienville streets, this new outlet promises to be a haven for those seeking high-quality natural and organic foods in New Orleans.
The expansive 25,000-square-foot store is set to offer a comprehensive selection of premium natural and organic products. A significant highlight is the store’s dedication to local sourcing, featuring over 330 products from esteemed Louisiana producers. This commitment not only supports the regional economy but also ensures that customers have access to the freshest local flavors. For produce lovers, the store boasts more than 100 organic produce items, alongside a wide array of Whole Foods Market exclusive products, providing shoppers with both variety and unique finds in their grocery shopping experience.
To celebrate the opening and welcome the community, Whole Foods Market, a key player in the Whole Foods New Orleans landscape, prepared a special treat for early birds. The first 500 shoppers were gifted a newly designed line of New Orleans reusable bags filled with samples of Whole Foods Market products. Beyond the opening day giveaways, customers were invited to take advantage of special store opening sales and enjoy a festive atmosphere with music. For those interested in learning more about healthy eating, Whole Foods Market’s healthy eating educators were on hand to offer tips and guided store tours, emphasizing the store’s role as a resource for health and wellness within the community.
Deeply rooted in community engagement, Whole Foods Market Broad Street initiated a series of “1 percent community giving days” during its opening week. This initiative, spanning across its Arabella Station, Veterans, and Broad Street locations, allowed shoppers to contribute to local nonprofits simply by shopping at any of these New Orleans Whole Foods Market stores. Each day of the opening week was dedicated to a different cause, showcasing Whole Foods Market’s dedication to supporting the diverse needs of New Orleans:
- Tuesday, Feb. 4: Providence Community Housing, an organization focused on developing affordable, mixed-income housing and support services, received the day’s donations, aiding their mission to build healthy and vibrant communities.
- Wednesday, Feb. 5: The Edgar “Dooky” Jr. & Leah Chase Family Foundation benefited, channeling funds towards their efforts to bolster historically underrepresented organizations in education, arts, and social justice.
- Thursday, Feb. 6: Youth Run NOLA, an empowering program for underserved youth through running and mentorship, was the recipient, supporting their work in promoting physical activity and mental resilience.
- Friday, Feb. 7: Restore the Bayou Canopy, dedicated toreplacing vital southern live oak trees lost along Bayou St. John, received support for their environmental conservation efforts.
- Saturday, Feb. 8: The Roots of Music, an organization providing free music education to New Orleans youth, was the final beneficiary, reinforcing the city’s rich musical heritage.
Reflecting the unique spirit of New Orleans, the Whole Foods Market Broad St. store incorporates local cultural elements and repurposed materials throughout its design. Adding to its distinctive appeal are features like healthy eating classes and community events hosted on-site. Repurposed pallet wood is creatively utilized on columns and store-wide, while salvaged graffiti panels from the “Peace” building add an artistic touch. The store also caters to eco-conscious customers with electric vehicle charging stations and a bike fix-it station. To further enhance the customer experience, two healthy eating educators are available to provide personalized advice, recipe ideas, and store tours. Exclusive to this location is a NOLA-specific reusable better bag, and a coffee bar featuring local French Truck Coffee, celebrating local flavors. The store proudly offers more than 330 local products, with over 115 bakery items, 82 Whole Body department products, and 80 grocery aisle items sourced locally. Historical touches include the original terrazzo floor and repurposed grocery store letters from a previous tenant, forming a “NOLA pride” accent above the entrance, blending the new with the city’s history. An Art-o-mat vending machine featuring “art to go” with local art further enriches the store’s local character.
The opening of Whole Foods Market Broad Street is a significant step in the broader ReFresh project, promising to unlock the full potential of community-centric development. Once the building project is fully realized, the community will benefit from partnerships with tenants like Liberty’s Kitchen, Tulane University’s Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine, Broad Community Connections, and FirstLine Schools. These collaborations will expand access to healthy eating and food resources through budget-friendly meal planning, store tours focused on healthy choices, health screenings, and much more.
For those wanting to explore the offerings at this new Whole Foods Market in New Orleans, the store is located at 300 N. Broad St., Suite 103, New Orleans, LA 70119. Store hours are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, and the phone number is (504) 434-3364. Further details can be found at wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/broadstreet. For Louisiana suppliers interested in partnering with Whole Foods Market, inquiries can be directed to [email protected]. Stay connected and get the latest updates by following their social media: Facebook: Whole Foods Market New Orleans, Twitter: wfm_louisiana, and Instagram: wholefoods_louisiana.
