Forget groceries. Tustin’s new Whole Foods is loaded with quick eats, drinks

August 27th, 2007, 2:00 am · 8 Comments · posted by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer

Whole Foods tea bar

I got an exclusive tour recently of the new Whole Foods Market at The District in Tustin.

Store Team Leader Michelle Payne led me through the giant, 60,000-square foot natural foods store, which nearly tripled in size from its old Tustin digs. (The Holt Avenue store closed Sunday.) The relocated store, which opens Wednesday, places a huge emphasis on takeout and gourmet services for time-starved shoppers.

At the end of the tour, I was struck by the irony of possibly coming here and never using a shopping cart. Here’s some highlights:

– Smokehouse and Seafood Grill: Marinated meats can be grilled or smoked as you shop. Or, you can sit at the granite-top bar and watch your order being prepared while a sporting event is shown on an overhead flat screen TV.

– Wine and Tapas bar: The Tustin store is one of only two in Southern California that will offer a Enomatic wine sampling machine. The contraption spits out samples ala an espresso machine for tasting various wines. Prices range from $2 to $10 for a one ounce sip. At the bar, you can also nibble on a variety of “tapas” dishes including cheeses, olives, chocolates and deli meats.

Beer tasting will also be available. (Biggest hoot of the tour: Bar is staffed at 9 a.m.)

– Coffee and tea bars: Separate walkup cafes for caffeine and Green Tea junkies.

– Takeout: A churrascaria (don’t ask how to pronounce) will feature Brazilian rotisserie-style food. A taqueria stand will serve burritos, tortas, nachos and enchiladas. An Asian takeout counter features rice and noodle bowls and sushi.

– Deli kiosks: The store is outfitted with a half-dozen “create your own” salad, soup and deli bars. One buffet table will rotate “international food” specials.

Also, noteworthy: If you’re really into butter, the store will have a special area for handcrafted flavored butters.

Look for my full story on Whole Foods in Wednesday’s Marketplace section.

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Christian says:

August 27, 2007 at 1:47 pm

Any Mexican food?

Post Reply

Nancy Luna says:

August 27, 2007 at 2:05 pm

Maybe this part of my story didn’t pop out .. But yes, takeout South American and Mexican — is on tap:

“A churrascaria (don’t ask how to pronounce) will feature Brazilian rotisserie-style food. A taqueria stand will serve burritos, tortas, nachos and enchiladas.”

August 28, 2007 at 9:37 am

Funny, it’s like that’s the only part I missed. Well, now Whole Foods is eligible to be blogged at OC Mex Food.

Jeff says:

August 29, 2007 at 9:20 am

Being a working stiff, its hard for me to make the farmers markets that happen during the day on weekdays in central Orange County. Has anyone found and compared other organic produce stores in central Orange (Orange, Santa Ana, Tustin, Anaheim)? With Whole Foods gone, I will need to find other sources.

Fast Food Maven » Blog Archive » Street fair: Winding down with family and friends - OCRegister.com says:

September 2, 2007 at 9:18 pm

[...] chicken soft taco. No dessert. (I held back because I’ve been eating these sugar cookies from Whole Foods all weekend. So, I figured my waistline could do [...]

Patty says:

October 12, 2007 at 8:50 am

Too bad Whole Foods closed the old Holt store…I have walked in to this new store twice and both times turned around and gone down the street to Mothers Market. Between Henry’s and Mother’s this Whole Foods is really unnecessary…thankfully!

Evelyn says:

November 2, 2007 at 9:18 pm

I read this article if only to look for the complete address. How come so much is told about it but there is no address. Where in tustin? is it still in holt? I sent my daughter 3 weeks ago just to buy some stuff badly needed by my husband and it is closed. now I get into this site all ad about it but no ADDRESS!!! what da!!!