Whole Foods Market has relocated its Colorado Mills store in Lakewood, Colorado, into a larger 49,500-square-foot space, expanding its assortment to include more than 800 products from more than 200 local suppliers that meet the retailer’s quality standards.
The new store, located at 14225 W. Colfax Avenue, replaced the previous location at 14357 W. Colfax Avenue, which closed after more than 27 years in operation.
“Opening our new Lakewood store is an exciting moment for our team and this community,” said Robert Crouse, store team leader. “With a larger footprint and hundreds of Colorado-made products, we’re opening our doors with our same commitment to delicious food, great service and a welcoming space for both our longtime customers and new neighbors alike.”
The store opened December 9th with local suppliers welcoming shoppers with complimentary samples, including juice from Big B’s, herbal coffee alternatives from Rasa and sweet bread bites from Outrageous Baking. The first 300 shoppers also received a limited-edition tote bag and a Secret Saver coupon offering nearly $100 in savings.
Focus on giving back
As part of the opening, Whole Foods Market donated food to The Action Center, which regularly collects surplus food from local Whole Foods stores to help reduce waste and support the surrounding community.
The retailer’s Nourishing Our Neighborhoods program is designed to strengthen the capacity of local food rescue organizations by helping them transport surplus food to communities facing the greatest need. The Lakewood store also is supporting local organizations through donations to Denver Rescue Mission and Giving Heart Englewood.
Supporting local growth
During the opening celebration, Whole Foods Market presented Denver-based supplier Lentiful, an instant lentil soup cup maker, with a low-interest loan through the Whole Foods Market Lending Program to support the company’s national expansion into approximately 390 Whole Foods Market locations.
Through the program, Whole Foods Market provides financing to small-scale, local and emerging producers to help grow their businesses. To date, the retailer has issued 430 loans, totaling about $39 million in capital.
Founded in 1980 and based in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market is part of Amazon’s Worldwide Grocery Stores division and operates more than 545 stores across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
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