Fresh Market is hoping 13 is its lucky number. It opens its 13th store in North Carolina next week in the old Harris Teeter spot in the shopping center across from Glen Lennox on N.C. 54 (What's that called: Glenwood Square?)
The store’s grand opening will be held on Wednesday, July 16, at 9 a.m. and will include a complimentary outdoor barbecue, a free sample bag of coffee to the first 1,000 customers, and food sampling stations throughout the store featuring a number of local and regional products.
With over 24,600 square feet of culinary delights, the Chapel Hill location will be one of The Fresh Market’s largest stores to date. Features include a bakery department that produces 30 freshly baked breads and 15 different varieties of pies, a full service meat counter, a wide selection of ready-to-serve entrées, fresh seafood that is flown into stores several times per week and more than 200 imported and domestic cheeses, as well as a bountiful produce department that boasts more than 400 items with a large organic selection.
The Fresh Market will bring more than 90 new jobs to the Chapel Hill area. It will be interesting to see how the store fares. Weaver Street just opened its third store, in Hillsborough. Whole Foods is expanding, and even Food Lion and Wal-Mart now have organic items. EarthFare misjudged the market, closing its shop in Eastgate to make room for Trader Joe's.
Has anyone on the blog shopped at a Fresh Market? What are they like?
Comments
Carbon offsetting
Wed, 07/09/2008 - 11:16 — marcoplosHopefully their organic produce is local - but even if it is, flying seafood in from around the world will create an environmental debt.
Fresh Foods
Tue, 07/08/2008 - 19:24 — rabid1More upscale than Trader Joe's with very high quality meats and seafood from a service counter. Plenty of convenience-added entrees, ready to put in the oven, only better quality than Harris Teeter.
Big selection of fresh roasted coffees in bulk. A top notch floral department with custom arranging, designers on duty. It's like walking into a flower shop.
Obscure, ethnic specialties. Good selection of fresh roasted, bulk coffees. Interesting confections and baked gods.
Beautiful store design, lighting and fixtures.
Good value. What's not to like?
Chapel Hill is a competitive market, but they have all of the departments to be successful. Personally, I think Whole Foods is overcrowded and hard to park at.
Fresh Market will be a convenient alternative for the southern end of town, including Meadowmont and Southern Village.
Been to the Fresh Market in
Tue, 07/08/2008 - 17:37 — Anonymous (not verified)Been to the Fresh Market in Winston-Salem. Its a great store. Should do well.
Fantastic!
Tue, 07/08/2008 - 16:35 — Dean (not verified)I have driven by the new Fresh Market every day for a few months waiting for the grand opening. I absolutely love the store! While it's only slightly more pricey than say Harris Teeter, the quality, environment, customer service, and selection are far better. It's unique - can't really compare it to Harris Teeter, Whole Foods, or Trader Joes. It's somewhere in between!