Signage going up today!
My local neighborhood has been without a nearby grocery store for over a year and a half. You probably remember me whining about this missing resource in my previous posts: Whole Foods Almaden and the announcement of New Leaf Evergreen.
The upside of this grocery store deprivation is that I know my neighbors so much better – we have to borrow staples from each other all the time, rather than drive 45 minutes round trip to buy a dozen eggs.
But in my less optimistic moments, not having a grocery store has felt like going on a restrictive diet and suddenly craving the forbidden foods exponentially more than you ever did before. Our closest store is a Lucky or an old, unremodeled Safeway. For a food-obsessed person like me this has been torture! Keep in mind, my idea of a fun break is to stop at an interesting grocery store and tool around in it for an hour just reading labels and imagining what I might do with an ingredient I’ve never seen before.
Booklet all about New Leaf proudly displaying the Evergreen location!!!
I feed my food imagination by talking to the butcher, tasting samples from the deli, asking questions of the cheese specialist, or finding a new-fangled superfood grain to test out. Well finally, I will be getting this sustenance and so much more – a juice bar, wine expertise, healthy pre-made foods hot and cold, lots of local and organic produce and the list goes on. This afternoon, I stopped by to see the progress and New Leaf’s marketing coordinator, Naomi Dresser, welcomed me in for a sneak peek and a brief photo session. I’m also including a link to all the classes and events they have planned to get us acclimated to the new store.
OMG! – the anticipation is palpable! Welcome to the neighborhood New Leaf – you better be here to stay!
Wine section near front right entrance to store
Oh to be able to buy a sandwich again...
Some of the cheese ready for the opening
Setting up the cheese section
Juice Bar Menu
Produce section just waiting for fresh arrivals!
Another sign...
So exciting, Beth! Very fun that you were able to get a sneak peek, too.
I’m hoping to be a little more prolific in the kitchen when I can go grab items when the spirit moves me… Can’t wait!
did they at least pay you for all the wonderful free advertising you are giving them?
sounds great. maybe they will open one in Sunnyvale in the near future. We do have a very nice new Safeway near us though with all the goodies you write about.
I don’t think you are quite as desperate for grocery stores as we are but you’ll have to come and check this out soon. Opens next week!!!
Wow, this is really exciting! How cool you got an inside peek! I have visions of you camping outside the door Tuesday night 🙂
How did you know Diane? I was trying to keep it a secret! (the camping out part, that is) Wednesday will be a great day for the Evergreen/Silver Creek area!