Expect big changes at Whole Foods Market La Jolla in the next few weeks. The natural and organic market, which has been re-arraigning the layout and making small changes since the holidays, is opening a fast-casual restaurant inside of the grocery store.
The restaurant, called Torrey Pints, will serve food, wine and have 36 beers on tap. Management estimates the restaurant with seating for 110 will open in early March.
Whole Foods (NASDAQ: WFM) is incorporating restaurant space in several of its new stores. For example, it will include a restaurant at its Del Mar store, which is scheduled to open on Feb. 27. The Del Mar store is Whole Foods fourth in San Diego County. It has stores in Encinitas and North Park as well.
Store manager Dave Sanders said the restaurant will allow more shoppers to enjoy a bit to eat on site.
The renovation is the first major update in the store since it opened in 1996, said Whole Foods Marketing Manager Liz Kahler.
The wine and cheese departments were moved, the salad bar was updated, and the whole body department has a new look already. The produce department is more open and the bulk bin foods section will be nearly doubled in size. The coffee bar and juice bar will be moved too.
“We are doing a 7 or 8 month remodel in three months,” said Sanders. “It is very exciting.”
Other changes at the La Jolla location include opening a smokehouse in the meat department. The store began selling the in-house smoked meats on Thursday.
Much of the construction work is being done overnight.
Are you looking forward to a restaurant inside Whole Foods Market La Jolla?
