Hundreds in line as Whole Foods Market opens its doors in South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - As the doors opened at Whole Foods in South Lake Tahoe Wednesday morning, the line that had wrapped around the building made its way into the much-anticipated store grand opening.

The line started forming at 6:00 a.m.

The first 300 people in the door received a special Whole Foods South Lake Tahoe shopping bag. When the doors opened at 9:00 a.m. it didn't take long for those to disappear. They also received a savings card with a mystery value ranging between $5 and $100 and a miniature loaf of bread to honor the Whole Foods Market tradition of breaking bread with the community.

Those who brought cars quickly filled the parking lot and spilled into the surrounding neighborhood for blocks seeking a place to park.

"We are very excited about the turnout," said a Whole Foods spokesperson.

Local and corporate staff have spent many hours on-site preparing for the grand opening of the 28,5000 square foot store with many late nights and early mornings stocking shelves, training, and preparing the hot and cold bars.

“We’re thrilled to join the South Lake Tahoe community and welcome our neighbors into their New Whole Foods Market,” said Wes Mewes, Store Team Leader. “We look forward to providing residents – and those visiting Lake Tahoe – with access to an expansive selection of fresh, responsibly sourced, delicious foods, many grab-and-go options, and a variety of items from local businesses, all in a unique setting inspired by the Sierra mountains.”

On Saturday, Mewes and his team gave tours of the store, giving a sneak peek and explanation into what Whole Foods Market is about. They provided samples from local vendors that will be carried in their store including Mindful Cupcakes and Tahoe Trail Bar.

"I am happy to have another option when shopping for my favorite brands," said resident Tiara Wasner. "This is a store that offers a lot of healthy options."

Staff wandered through the store Wednesday with plates of samples for those waiting in the endless lines to check out. The aroma of hot cookies followed them as they greeted (and treated) everyone.

Another South Lake Tahoe resident, Melissa Wong, had her cart filled and said she was excited for the arrival of the store and to not have to drive to Reno to shop at the Whole Foods Market there.

There are a lot of options on their famous salad bar line along with hot foods and breakfast choices. Both inside and outside are tables and chairs to eat at.

"I am pretty excited," said Meyers resident Karen Cutter about the arrival of Whole Foods. "I like their emphasis on local."

Bay Area and Reno customers (and locals) can place holiday meal orders at shop.wfm.com and pick them up at the new South Lake Tahoe store when visiting for the holidays.

On Wednesday, November 13, 5% of the store’s net sales will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe. The store is also going to be working with other nonprofits such as Christmas Cheer and Bread and Broth.

The vacant building across the parking lot from the store on the corner of Herbert and Lake Tahoe Boulevard is part of the Whole Foods Market lease but what is going inside has yet to be determined, store officials said.

Whole Foods is part of Bijou Marketplace that occupies the corner of Ski Run Boulevard and Lake Tahoe Boulevard and spreads to Herbert Avenue. In 2017, the City of South Lake Tahoe sold the property where the center currently is to Halferty Development Corporation for $3,100,000. The city, through grants and sale of adjoining property, purchased the old Knights Inn as part of the Bijou Park Creek Watershed project to restore the creek and surrounding stream zone.

Neighbors at Bijou Marketplace include Chase Bank, Panda Express and Five Guys Burgers, and soon to arrive Chipolte.

Whole Foods Market South Lake Tahoe will employ approximately 100 full and part-time team members. Following the grand opening, the store will be open from 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. daily with possible special holiday hours. About 85 percent of the staff were already South Lake Tahoe area residents with the rest living off the hill with plans to commute. One long-time South Lake Tahoe resident, Nick Lefteroff, has been commuting to the Whole Foods Reno store for three years and is happy to be able to work locally now.

Special features of the store will include:

- Fresh produce department with a wide array of fresh fruits and vegetables, including offerings from eight local growers such as organic honeycrisp and fuji apples and satsuma mandarins, as well as pre-cut vegetables for easy grab-and-go meals
- Meat department featuring sausages, freshly ground beef, seasonal appetizer selections and oven-ready protein kits, as well as options from eight local suppliers, including Fork in the Road hot dogs, Diestel ground turkey and Silva dinner sausages
- Seafood department offering fresh and frozen seafood, with all products either sustainably wild caught or responsibly farmed, including seasonal favorites such as oven-ready, garlic-roasted Dungeness crab and Tsar Nicoulai caviar
- Specialty foods section featuring a variety of cheeses, coffee and teas, including options from more than 20 local suppliers like Nevada-based Blind Dog Coffee Roasters, along with a self-serve olive and antipasti bar
- Extensive wine and beer selection with more than 380 wines and 350 craft beers and ciders, including local breweries like Common Cider, Fifty Fifty Brewing and Lead Dog Brewing
- Bakery department offering an array of self-serve baked goods, such as cookies, cakes, breads, frozen mochi and options for special diets, as well as a variety of items from local bakeries, including Mindful Cupcakes, Truckee Sourdough Company and Rounds Bakery
- Prepared foods section including a salad bar, eight soup wells with seasonal options, made-to-order sandwiches, Sicilian-style pizza, Kikka sushi, rotisserie chickens and sliced deli meats from local suppliers
- Over 90 bulk bins offering nuts, seeds, grains, beans, dried fruit, candy and coffee, as well as four make-your-own nut butter grinders
- Beauty, body care and home goods section featuring sustainable and mission-driven products including plush toys, cozy blankets, and nourishing skin, hair care and cosmetics all meeting Whole Foods Market’s body care standards, as well as California brands like Cocokind, Kuli Kuli and Juice Beauty
- Hundreds of products throughout the store from local suppliers, 12 of which are recipients of Whole Foods Market’s Local Producer Loan Program, which provides low-interest loans to local producers to help grow their businesses
Indoor and outdoor seating for more than 130 customers
- Amazon Prime members who shop at Whole Foods Market have access to a number of benefits year-round, like deep discounts on dozens of select popular products each week and an additional 10% off hundreds of in-store sale items. In addition, eligible Prime members receive 5% back on Whole Foods Market purchases when using the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card.

The store is located at 3600 Lake Tahoe Blvd.