A new, weekday farmers market is getting ready to open for the summer in the parking lot of Whole Foods (2001 15th Ave W).

The Seattle Farmers Market Association, which includes the popular Ballard Sunday Farmers Market has teamed up with Whole Foods to make this happen. “SFMA believes that this type of business partnership will allow the farmers market to become more sustainable while providing a rich experience for the entire community,” according to the press release.

The hope is to start with 30 vendors and expand to 40 or more during peak harvest season. The market will run from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursdays starting June 9th, timed for commuters heading home from work. This is the same time slot as the Queen Anne Farmers Market, which will be running from 3 to 7:30 p.m. every Thursday from June 2 to October 6 at the corner of W Crockett Street and Queen Anne Ave N.

“This new farmers market will provide the best of both worlds for convenient midweek shopping, fresh picked seasonal produce from local farms and food producers, and the in-depth selection of the Whole Foods Market experience,” the press release states.

To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Whole Foods is hosting a 5 day party at its Interbay location.  Starting September 16, the store will host a different event for 5 consecutive days including wine, beer and food tastings.

The highlight of the party is the “Beer ‘n Burgers Bash” on Saturday (9/18) when you can sample beers from breweries around the state alongside sliders prepared by local chefs.  The event on Saturday runs from noon to 3pm with a suggested donation of $15 to benefit Northwest Harvest, which will also hold a food drive during the 5 day party.  You can purchase tickets for the Beer ‘n Burgers Bash by clicking here.

Whole Foods grand opening in Interbay from October 2009

Here’s a list of some of the other events scheduled to celebrate the anniversary:

· A tasting of Samuel Smith organic fruit beers.   Sept. 16, 5-7pm, $3.

· A wine and seafood pairing with white wine, local sake and sparkling wine.   Sept. 17, 5-7pm, $3.

· A wine tasting with local producer Theo Chocolates.   Sept. 18, 3-5pm, $3 donation.

· Mini cupcake giveaway in-store to the first 100 guests at 6pm on Sept. 20.

This Friday, April 23, Whole Foods will be hosting a Sustainable Seafood and Wine Pairing at 5:30 p.m. at its Interbay location. The motto: “Let’s retake our plates.”

Every bite has a story, and we believe in supporting sustainable food choices. Join us for a delicious sampling of Sustainable Halibut and Sustainable Wines. Our Seafood guru Charley will demonstrate how to cut a fresh, whole halibut and cook it. Sample the tasty halibut with Sustainable wine pairings selected by wine guru David. Become educated about the importance of sustainable seafood through MSC Certification and the Marine Bay Aquarium rating system, as well as sustainability and wines.

The event costs $10 and reservations are required. Attendees may sign up in person with customer service or email Amy at amy.martinic@wholefoods.com.

Over the last year the Interbay Neighborhood Association has thrown support behind the Interbay Urban Center development, whose major tenant is Whole Foods, on 15th Ave W. Filling the remaining slots has been a slower process. And according to the INA, the newest tenant could be a new Washington State Liquor and Wine outpost.

The INA reports that the new liquor store will join Whole Foods, The Magic Dragon Chinese Restaurant, Peet’s Coffee and Tea, Subway and Interbay Cleaners at the Interbay Urban Center in May, though the Washington State Liquor Control Board could not verify this information at this time.

“We’re not advertising for that yet, it’s not chiseled in stone,” said WSLCB representative Sandy Hill.

Still, the INA seems eager to welcome Liquor and Wine. They claim that the closest current liquor store, located in Lower Queen Anne at 515 1st Ave N, is inconvenient due to the lack of parking and accessibility to the majority of the hill. The new store, they say, will provide a much needed alternative for many Queen Anne, Interbay and Magnolia residents.

We waited in anticipation of what types of business would fill the remaining store fronts.  The new liquor and wine store is a welcome addition and has a large parking lot for easy and safe access.

(Photo courtesy of the Interbay Neighborhood Association).

Update 11:46 a.m.: WSLCB Communications Consultant Anne Radford has just verified the new Liquor and Wine store. “We will open a state liquor store in Interbay at 1827 15th Ave. W. Suite A-22 in May. We will announce hours/opening date when available,” she wrote QueenAnneView via email.

Whole Foods is hosting a mixer supporting the Human Rights Campaign from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. tonight, Thursday, April 1, at their Interbay store, located at 2001 15th Ave W. For a $5 donations guests will get to attend a Wine Tasting with hors d’oeuvres and mingle with neighbors.

The Human Rights Campaign is a civil rights organization dedicated to working toward equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people across the country.  From the HRC website:

By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

Whole Foods is hosting Chocolate Fest, a store-wide tasting event, tomorrow, Thursday, February 11 from 5 to 7 p.m. at three of its Seattle locations, including the Interbay store, at 2001 15th Ave W. Interested parties can purchase passports to explore the store full of chocolate concoctions for $5. All proceeds from the event will be going to Heroes for Homeless, a local non-profit dedicated to assisting homeless people living on the streets of Seattle find safe and organized shelter.

This is just a reminder that there are two free events happening in the neighborhood tonight. The first ever Interbay Singles Mixer will be at Whole Foods from 5:30p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Get ready for snacks, wine and beer ($2 a pour), and produce-aisle flirting. Details here.

Educational non-profit Successful Schools in Action is holding a discussion on the February school levies from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at McClure Middle School tonight with Schools First board member Lisa Macfarlane. This is one of there upcoming SSIA events. Details here.

The Interbay Whole Foods is hosting the first neighborhood Singles Happy Hour next Tuesday, January 12. If you don’t mind looking for love in the produce aisle, stop by the store after work for the Interbay Singles Mixer from 5:30p.m. to 7:30p.m. There will be snacks, and wine and beer for $2 a pour. Singles will also get to see a live cooking demo with one of the store’s chefs.

Whole Foods is beckoning in the holiday season, starting with a “Taste of Thanksgiving” sampling party tonight, from 5 to 8 p.m. at their Interbay store.

“I hope you will join me for a evening of sips and nibbles from all our departments, highlighting the best of Whole Foods Market’s holiday offerings,” wrote Marketing Specialist Mary Crowe.

Attendees are asked to make a $10 donation, which will give them access to an array of the grocer’s finest holiday treats. All proceeds will go to the Pike Place Market Senior Center and Food Bank, “the third busiest food bank in King County,” Crowe wrote.

Wondering what your palette can expect? Take a gander at the tasting menu below.

Four times a year Whole Foods has a special event called 5% day, when each location donates 5 percent of their net sales to a 501c3 non-profit. Today the five Whole Foods in the Seattle Metropolitan area, including the new Interbay store, will be donating to Operation Frontline, a nutrition education program that teaches families how to create healthy and satisfying meals on a budget.

Operation Frontline is run by Solid Ground, an organization committed to helping provide equal opportunities within the Seattle community. Today, much of their work focuses on combating poverty, homelessness and hunger. Solid Ground is based out of the Wallingford neighborhood, and provides assistance to around 38,000 households in King County every year.

A small crowd gathered for the opening ceremonies outside the new Interbay Whole Foods at 8 a.m. this morning. Then the doors were open and shoppers were invited inside.

Many in the crowd were connected to the store and there was no rush of shoppers waiting to get inside.  A few folks did grab shopping carts and began to load up. The Interbay Whole Foods employs about 140 people who seemed eager to show off their new store to shoppers.

The shopping complex anchored by Whole Foods has slowly filled up with other retail outlets. The Magic Dragon Chinese Restaurant is now open along with Peet’s Coffee and Tea, Subway and a dry cleaner.

Whole Foods decided to build a smaller store in the Interbay Urban Center than originally planned and the space next door is still available for lease.

A large crowd showed up at the new Whole Foods’ house warming party this evening for free food and drink in advance of the store’s grand opening tomorrow, Tuesday, October 13.

The doors will open officially at 8 a.m. tomorrow. The store invited future shoppers in this afternoon to see check out the goods and enjoy free samples.

The company will be continuing its store opening promotions through the day tomorrow: The first 200 customers through the door after opening tomorrow will get a reusable shopping bag.

Today was preview day for the new Whole Foods in Interbay.

The pumpkins are stacked out front, the shelves are stocked, even the cupcakes are frosted and ready for tomorrow’s grand opening.

Vicky Foley, the spokeswoman for Whole Foods, says that this is one of the smaller stores in the Seattle area, but it is full of local products. They have local produce, local wine, lotions by Ballard Organics and sushi made by Blue C.

The Allegro Espresso Bar will open at 7 a.m. each morning and will feature a Kombucha bar brewed by Townshend’s Tea Company in Portland.

Just down the counter and spanning most of the east wall is gelato, a pizzeria station, a burrito bar and sandwich bar followed by a bakery and plenty of gourmet cheese.

There is a separate little room at the front of the store near the espresso bar that is the “community room” that will have free wi-fi.

Forget the traditional ribbon-cutting, tomorrow there will be a “bread-breaking ceremony” at 8 a.m. to officially open the new store.

Whole Foods is having a pre-opening “house warming party” for their new Interbay location on Monday, October 12 from 4-8 p.m. and they’ve invited the surrounding communities to enjoy snacks and live music.

The store will open for shopping on Tuesday, October 13th.

The Interbay Whole Foods is approaching its opening date, now scheduled for one day earlier than previously announced. Originally set to open on October 14, the store will be opening its doors one day early, on Tuesday, October 13.

“Yes we are opening one day early as we are so organized!” said PR representative Vicki Foley.

As you can see from this picture, the store looks pretty much ready to go. The shelves are stocked and everything seems to be in place.  Whole Foods announced in January that the store in the Interbay Retail Center on 15th Ave West would open in December but have since continued to move up the time frame.

Our sister site, Magnolia Voice was the first to report last September that the project at Interbay was stopped when the developer filed suit against Whole Foods for breaching the lease.  The original opening was set for last Thanksgiving.  Peet’s Coffee, Subway and Dry Cleaner have already opened.  The Magic Dragon Chinese Eatery is set to open soon.

The new Whole Food at Interbay, which is set to open October 14, is hiring.

MagnoliaVoice reports the company is looking for team member and leadership positions at the new location. They have both part time and full time positions available in produce, bakery, catering, coffee, meet, seafood, prepared food and specialty and guest services.

Applications are being accepted online. For more information, click here.

According to Whole Foods PR representative Vicki Foley, the national grocer is “on track” to open their Interbay location on October 14. The new Whole Foods will be the “anchor tenant” at the Interbay Urban Center, a new 80,000 retail hub along 15th Avenue W. by Seattle-based real estate company TRF Pacific.

In a press release published by the two companies back in January, Whole Foods Pacific Northwest regional president John Clougher called Interbay and “emerging community,” and explained that the venture would transform the area and benefit Interbay residents, as well as surrounding neighborhoods like Magnolia and Queen Anne.

“15th Avenue is the third most traveled arterial in Seattle. People want to shop and get going to their destination, so this store will cater to good foods on the go,” Clougher said. The Interbay Urban Center would also be located at the intersection of the Burke-Gilman bike trail and next to Metro’s rapid transit bus service that goes along 15th to downtown.

The Interbay Whole Foods will feature an interactive healthy eating center, cooking classes and demonstrations, a coffee shop and a handful of other amenities common in other stores by the Austin, Texas-based grocery chain.

This Whole Foods is finally coming, after a lawsuit with developer TRF Pacific settled earlier this year. So far several smaller retail spaces have been leased: Interbay Cleaners, Subway, Verizon Wireless, The Magic Dragon Chinese Eatery and Peet’s Coffee & Tea.

The project, despite the controversy that has surrounded it over the past year, is supported by many Interbay residents who say it will bring much-needed community development to the neighborhood. Bruce Wynn, executive director of the Interbay Neighborhood Association, writes:

We are completely supportive of the Interbay Urban Center and have had representatives from TRF, the development company of this project, at our INA meetings. Whole Foods is currently interviewing for a community relations rep, and I met with her last week. They intend to reach out to the community as they get closer to opening.

And According to rep Vicki, Whole Foods will continue to expand in the Seattle-area:

After Interbay, we anticipate opening the Fauntleroy Place store at some stage in 2010.

(Thanks to Vicki and MagnoliaVoice for the photos!)

One business is now open in the Whole Foods complex on 15th Ave West and more are on the way.

Subway opened recently and workers there say business is actually pretty good despite the fact anchor tenant Whole Foods won’t open until at least the end of the year. 

Peet’s Coffee and Tea and a dry cleaner are also set to open in the complex soon.

According to a report in the Seattle Times this morning, Whole Foods in the Interbay has settled its lawsuit with developer TRF and will restart its plans to open its Interbay location later this year.  Whole Foods will utilize the 38,000 sq ft. space for its operations and will find a sub-lessor for the other 20,000 sq. ft that had been originally designed for their use.  More information will be posted after the press announcement being held today at the Interbay Urban Center at 11:00 am.