Today: A sneak peek at Whole Foods Market South End.

When I get THIS excited about a new grocery store, one of two things is going on:

1. I need to get a life.
2. This new grocery store is a really, really great grocery store.

In the case of Whole Foods Market South End opening minutes from our condo (and on my commute home!), it’s sort of both.  

I always need to get a life. And this is a really, really great grocery store.  

A sneak peek at Whole Foods Market South End

Tonight, I had the chance to get a sneak peek at the store before it opens this Friday, and couldn’t wait to share some of the highlights.  So I stayed up past my bedtime.  And delayed getting a life.

Let’s start with this: It’s big (like… 50,000 square feet big).  There’s parking.  It’s T accessible (Silver Line, Red Line/Broadway, and Orange Line/Tufts Medical Center).  

And it’s pretty.  

South End’s Ink Block

The store occupies the old Boston Herald site in the South End’s Ink Block development.  I love that Whole Foods acquired the old Herald sign and incorporated all sorts of newspapery (not a word, but hey) elements in the store’s decor.  

As a flagship store, Whole Foods Market South End features several new retail concepts, including a one-of-a-kind Fish Shack, just around the corner from a frozen yogurt bar (you now know where to find me…).

Juice and smoothie bar

The store’s juice and smoothie bar will serve menu options as well as just about any juice or smoothie customers can dream up (you now know where to find me, after I’ve moved on from the fro-yo).

Bulk foods

The bulk food options go far beyond the usual nuts and seeds.  Offerings top 250 items and include bulk salad greens, pre-cut fruits and vegetables, bulk liquids such as aminos, and a special super foods bar.

milk + honey at Whole Foods Market

Oh.  And there is a spa inside Whole Foods Market South End… yes, you read that correctly.  Just beyond the Whole Body department is a milk + honey spa (another first for Whole Foods), which will offer a range of services including facials, hot shaves, shoe shines, manicures and pedicures.

Wine, beer and spirits

In addition to a huge selection of wine and beer, Whole Foods Market South End Market will be the first Massachusetts Whole Foods Market to carry spirits.  I’m going to sit in this gorgeous leather chair while Nick explores 40 linear feet of craft beers (I don’t really even know what that means, but it sounds pretty cool).  

A few unexpected treats

• Kombucha on tap
• A full service coffee counter featuring Boston’s first modbar, cold brew coffee on tap and single origin pourovers 
• A Bikestock machine that sells bike parts (located outside, next to the bike racks)
• An Art-o-mat (an old cigarette vending machine refurbished to vend… art!).

Grand opening details

If you’re in town this Friday, I highly recommend stopping by the Ink Block for Whole Foods Market South End’s Grand Opening.  5% of the day’s proceeds will benefit five local non-profits and Josiah Quincy Elementary School’s choir will perform before the store’s bread breaking ceremony (much tastier than a ribbon cutting).

Meet me at the frozen yogurt.  Or the juice bar.  Or the spa.  Or by the cheese… let’s meet at the cheese.

Also On Tap for Today:

• From The Kitchn: 13 things that should be on your shopping list this January
• Friendly reminder during this extreme cold: please check on your homeless, elderly and vulnerable neighbors.  Please.
• Another friendly reminder during this extreme cold: wear a hat.

What’s new in your ‘hood this week?