Whole Foods opened its new 59,119-square-foot store located in Towson, Maryland, today. The location is in the Towson Row development near Towson University. The store’s design pays homage to the area’s history as a transportation hub with a light and bright color palette. The new location’s assortment emphasizes local products from Maryland, overseen by Kathleen Leverenz, local forager for Whole Foods Market’s Mid-Atlantic region.
Aiming to serve as a community hub, the new store features an upstairs mezzanine with a lounge, arcade, and outdoor seating. A community room is available for meetings and working groups.
The full-service coffee bar and prepared foods section with hot and cold food bars, hot meals sold by the plate, and a wide assortment of pre-packed, ready-to-eat items creates a quick-and-easy food destination for university students and nearby businesses, according to the retailer. Customizable whole pizzas and pizza-by-the-slice are offered, as well as grab-and-go sushi by Kikka.
Its seafood counter features jumbo lump crab cakes, made-in-house lobster rolls, and grab-and-go marinated seafood, and other local options like fresh oysters and oyster sauces from Rappanhannock Oyster Co.
There is an array of organic, conventional, and Sourced for Good produce and flowers, with nearby farms like Shenandoah Growers and Lancaster Farm Fresh stocking their goods.
The cheese department has 300 varieties, a 16-foot artisan cheese display, and a seasoned team of cheesemongers ready to help with cheese selection, pairings and building a custom board for any occasion. Local options include the Merry Goat Round from Firefly Farms, and The Rev coffee-infused cheddar from High Country Creamery.
A full-service meat counter, with butchers available to cut steaks to order or debone poultry, features dry-aged and oven-ready sausages and smoked meats, as well as organic pork from Wellshire Farms.
Many items in the bakery offerings are supplied locally, including Triple Love Cheesecake from Hiatus Cheesecake, and Chesapeake Cheddar Bread from Crest Hill Bakery, as well as scratch-made bread and favorites like San Francisco-style sourdough.
The Wellness and Beauty section also showcases local products, including moisturizing haircare from Oyin Handmade, and honey bar soap from Hon’s Honey.
To give back to the Towson community, Whole Foods Market will make a $15,000 donation in support of Baltimore Hunger Project, The Assistance Center of Towson Churches, and Towson University’s FoodShare, all working to alleviate food insecurity in Towson and the greater Baltimore area.
Related: Whole Foods Market to Open Store in San Francisco; Whole Foods Brings Carbon Neutral Organic Milk to More Stores.