From the lip balm to the meats, each item at Whole Foods is produced with no artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners or preservatives. The Woodlands store, the 411
th in the U.S. and 10
th in the Greater Houston area, opened March 18 at the corner of Lake Woodlands and Lake Front Circle in Hughes Landing.
The 44,000-square-feet store offers more than 300 organic items, including 75 fruits and vegetables and 20 fresh juice options. The Woodlands Whole Foods features a wine and beer bar, with 24 taps, a wood-burning pizza oven, which can cook a pizza in 90 seconds and a build-your-own taco station.
Store Team Leader Jerry Brown said the store will evolve to accommodate customers.
"We designed it with growth in mind so there's opportunity to add additional merchandise, so we can adjust as needed," Brown said.
Brown said a Facebook page led to Whole Foods opening in The Woodlands. Woodlands Whole Food fans created a page to amass requests for the store to set up a location in The Woodlands.
"The Woodlands picked whole foods," Brown said. "This is the number one requested Whole Foods location in the country."
Brown said the store is distinct from other Whole Foods because the taco bar was designed for The Woodlands. He said none of the Greater Houston stores offers self-service pizza.
Media and Community Relations Coordinator Jeanette Webster said no two Whole Foods are alike. She said Whole Foods emphasizes knowing what local residents want from their neighborhood store.
"We want to get to know who our neighbors are," Webster said. "It is apparent to us how long the [Woodlands] community has waited for us."