Whole Foods Announces Grand Opening Date, Events

Whole Foods' Northdale location has big plans for its opening day Thursday, Nov. 1.

The store will open at 9 a.m. following a free continental breakfast in the parking lot at 8 a.m The Gaither High School Band and cheerleaders will perform live music while eager shoppers munch on breakfast.

The special festivities are a way of saying thank you to the community, said Shanti Walls, team leader at the store.

In addition to the free eats, Whole Foods is giving back to local charities during the opening week.

For the first five days, the store will donate one percent of net sales to the following charities:

• Quantum Leap Farm
  
• Meals on Wheels Tampa
  
• Hope Children’s Home
• Carrollwood Cultural Center
  
• Life Enrichment Center
  

To find out which charity will be featured on a particular day, check the Whole Foods Carrollwood Facebook Page.

“With Thanksgiving and the holiday season just around the corner, we're eager to raise the bar this year on holiday entertaining and also give a little back to the community that has given us such a warm welcome," Walls said.

On opening day food samplings will be given out in each of the store's departments. The Carrollwood-Northdale location will be 36,000 square feet and feature store favorites like a salad and hot bar, seafood section and natural beauty products. The location is Whole Foods Markets’ second Tampa area store and number 18 in Florida.

Can't wait until Nov. 1?

Shoppers can register for a special sneak peak preview tour on Monday, Oct. 29 from noon to 8 p.m. To sign up, go to carrollwood.wholefoodsrsvp.com beginning Thursday, Oct. 18. Space is limited; pre-registration is required. The guided tours will take place approximately every 15 minutes with a suggested donation of $5 per guest to benefit the Bob Sierra Family YMCA’s scholarship program.