Whole Foods Market 365 has opened its first two Atlanta-area stores as of Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 9 a.m.
In Buckhead, the store is located at 3535 Northside Parkway and in Decatur, at 1555 Church Street.
The Atlanta stores are the eleventh and twelfth Whole Foods Market 365 locations in the country.
“We’re excited to introduce the Decatur and Northside Buckhead communities to the Whole Foods Market 365 concept, offering the very best quality food at low prices,” Jeff Turnas, president of Whole Foods Market 365, said in a press release Tuesday.
“We have taken all we have learned about combining convenience and customer experience and created what we believe are two of our most exciting stores.”
As part of the Friends of Whole Foods Market program, each store features locally-based in-store beverage and dining experiences.
Through this program, the company partners with outside chefs, culinary and lifestyle brands, to bring shoppers innovative in-store offerings.
The Decatur store is home to the fourth location for homegrown Atlanta-based Dtox Juice.
Sublime Tree is the Buckhead equivalent.
Opening in 2019, both the Decatur and Buckhead stores will feature Loteria Grill, a Mexican cuisine-focused restaurant from Chef Jimmy Shaw.
Inspired by Atlanta’s Ponce de Leon Avenue, shoppers in the Decatur store will also experience Pour de Leon, a beverage, dining and gathering venue with free classic arcade games.
The space will offer a selection of locally and nationally sourced beers, wines and ciders all on tap, as well as a menu of savory hot bar bites with dipping sauces and grab-and-go prepared foods.
Between the two stores, Whole Foods Market 365 is employing 200 people.
On December 19, five percent of the net sales from each store will benefit local nonprofits.
In Decatur, proceeds will benefit Slow Food Atlanta, a nonprofit which seeks to educate the community and advocate on ways to support local food culture, farmers, artisans, and markets.
In Buckhead, Open Hand will be the recipient.
The Decatur and Buckhead stores are both open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.