It’s official: Whole Foods is coming to Crystal City.
A new store is in development at 1550 Crystal Drive, where Amazon Fresh shuttered in April, Whole Foods Market confirmed with ARLnow. This is in addition to another Whole Foods scheduled to open next month at 103 E. Broad Street in Falls Church.
While the Falls Church spot is replacing another location near Tysons that is closing on Feb. 3, the Crystal City store is part of a new approach for the grocer. The Amazon company is currently expanding its presence in metropolitan areas with smaller stores, referred to as Whole Foods Market Daily Shops.
“We look forward to serving the Crystal City community with the first Whole Foods Market Daily Shop store in the D.C. area and to bringing the same high-quality natural and organic products our customers expect, in a new quick-shop format,” a representative said.
Specific information about the store, including an estimated opening date, is not yet available. But in a press release last year, Whole Foods said the new, smaller-format stores will pair high quality offerings with convenience.
Ranging between 7,000 to 14,000 square feet, the quick-shop stores are about a quarter to half the footprint of an average 40,000 square foot Whole Foods Market store, paving the way for expansion in dense, metropolitan areas. In bustling hubs like Manhattan where proximity matters, these stores will bring Whole Foods Market closer to existing customers, while extending the company’s reach to others in surrounding neighborhoods.
Whole Foods Market Daily Shop will provide a convenient option for grab-and-go meals and snacks, weekly essentials, and a quick, easy destination to pick up ingredients to complete a meal – with all items meeting the company’s rigorous quality standards. Though smaller, the stores will still offer Whole Foods Market favorites, including an ample selection of fresh, seasonal produce, meat and seafood, prepared foods like sandwiches and pre-packed meals, breads, alcohol, and supplements, as well as a handpicked range of local specialties and our own 365 by Whole Foods Market brand. In addition, the location that is expected to open this year will be the first Whole Foods Market store in Manhattan to offer Juice & Java, a venue for coffee, tea, fresh pressed juices, smoothies, sandwiches, soups and various desserts.
“At our new store formats, we’re tailoring every square foot to the unique, fast-paced needs of urban lifestyles. We’re excited to introduce a new way for our customers to quickly pick up their Whole Foods Market favorites – from grab-and-go meals to that last-minute dinner ingredient – making the early morning or after work grocery trips more efficient and enjoyable,” said Christina Minardi, Executive Vice President Growth & Development, Whole Foods Market & Amazon. “Expanding our footprint with Whole Foods Market Daily Shop is key to our growth, fostering deeper customer connections, and advancing our purpose to nourish people and the planet.”
ARLnow was first alerted to the development by a reader who noticed a Virginia ABC permit posted to the 1550 Crystal Drive storefront this past weekend. The permit was issued on Dec. 31.
The location would be the only grocery store in Crystal City, about a 10-minute walk from another Whole Foods at 520 12th Street S. in Pentagon City, next to Amazon’s HQ2. (Whole Foods is owned by Amazon.)
The new Whole Foods in Falls Church is set to open on Tuesday, Feb. 7, replacing the company’s existing Idylwood Plaza spot.
The 45,000-square-foot store on the ground floor of Broad & Washington apartments will be open daily from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. It’s expected to offer over 700 locally sourced grocery items, full-service meat and seafood counters, a bakery, a coffee bar and a section with ready-to-eat items.
A grand opening next month will feature free coffee and baked goods, and the first 300 customers that day will receive tote bags and cards with offers up to $100 off.
Upon opening the new location, the company also plans to make a food donation to Northern Virginia Food Rescue and send $5,000 each to the charities Food for Others and Share of McLean.
