Whole Foods Market has set a grand opening date for its new store in Falls Church, which means its 25-year stay in Idylwood is officially coming to an end.
The grocery store’s last day of business at 7511 Leesburg Pike in Idylwood Plaza is currently scheduled for Monday, Feb. 3. However, the timing could change “depending on the store’s in-stock levels,” a Whole Foods spokesperson told FFXnow.
The closure will precede the opening of a new, 45,000-square-foot store at 103 E. Broad Street on the ground floor of Falls Church City’s new Broad & Washington apartment building on Feb. 7 at 8 a.m., Whole Foods announced today (Wednesday).
At the grand opening, the first 300 people in line will get a free custom tote bag and a “Secret Saver” coupon card with offers totaling up to $100 off. Complimentary coffee and baked goods will also be provided respectively by D.C.’s 1790 Coffee and the Capitol Heights, Maryland-based bakery Whisked by Jenna.
To commemorate the occasion, Whole Foods says it will make a food donation to the Northern Virginia Food Rescue, a nonprofit network of donors, volunteers and distributors dedicated to getting food to those who need it. The Amazon-owned grocer previously donated a refrigerated van to the nonprofit.
In addition, donations of $5,000 each will go to Food for Others, a food bank based in Merrifield, and Share of McLean, a volunteer-run nonprofit that provides assistance with food, clothing, furniture and financial aid. Share of McLean operates a food pantry and clothing room out of the McLean Baptist Church (1367 Chain Bridge Road).
Open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Whole Foods in Falls Church will sell more than 700 products sourced from vendors based in Virginia, Maryland and D.C., according to a press release. Other features include:
- Full-service seafood counter featuring only sustainable wild-caught or Responsibly Farmed seafood and a large selection of ready-to-cook seafood. Local seafood options with fresh catches daily include Happy Oysters from Sapidus Farms, crab soups and dips from Jimmy’s Famous Seafood and fresh fish offerings caught in Chesapeake Bay from George’s Seafood.
- An array of certified organic, conventional and Sourced for Good Local items include salad kits from Gotham Greens, hard squash from Lancaster Farms and microgreens from Superfood and Aerofarms.
- Specialty department dedicated to celebrating cheesemakers and artisan producers. Local items include baked crackers from Firehook, charcuterie from Naturalissima and artisanal pastas from La Pasta. The cheese counter is overseen by trained cheesemongers who can offer recommendations for any occasion.
- Curated grocery section filled with private label favorites from 365 by Whole Foods Market and local products including jalapeño grilled cheese sandwiches from A Friendly Bread, Philly Cheesesteak mac and cheese from Myles Comfort Foods, and Strawberry Fields Organic Skyr Yogurt from Painterland Sisters.
- Full-service meat counter, with butchers available to cut steaks and poultry to order. Features include dry-aged beef, sausage made in-house, as well as pork from local supplier Pennbrook Acres Farms.
- Extensive selection of more than 550 wines and 180 craft beers.
- Prepared Foods department featuring a hot food bar, salad bar and pizza. Customers can also shop for sushi made fresh daily from Kikka Sushi.
- Full-service coffee bar brewing a variety of roasts and serving made-to-order seasonal and everyday tea and coffee beverages.
- Bakery department offering made-in-house bread as well as everyday favorites, such as Whole Foods Market’s Berry Chantilly Cake and brown butter cookies. The department also carries a wide variety of special diet items, including vegan brownies, cakes and chocolate chip cookies along with several gluten-free selections. Local options include cookies from Whisked by Jenna and vegan cake slices from Sweet and Natural.
- Whole Body department with a large assortment of wellness, beauty and lifestyle items. Local products include digestion booster supplements from Tiny Sprouts Foods, Luna Goat Milk Soap from Naked Goat Soap Company and Lavender Shea Butter from Shea Radiance.
The future of the nearly 30,000-square-foot space that Whole Foods currently occupies at Idylwood Plaza remains up in the air. FFXnow has reached out to Federal Realty, the property owner, for comment.
The shopping center is slated to add several dining options this year, including the Japanese restaurant Kajiken, Mumbai Central, First Watch, Quickway Hibachi and the frozen-yogurt shop Happy Froyo.
