Last month, New Seasons Market invited us to an all-day immersion experience at their local stores in Portland. With anticipation levels high for their new Mercer Island store opening on November 10th, of course we couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

Here’s what I learned during my Portland visit and 10 reasons to get excited for New Seasons Market on Mercer Island:

1. Friendliest Store in Town
New Seasons Market prides itself on being “the friendliest store in town.” After my visits to two stores in Portland, I wholeheartedly agree that the company motto fits. Greeted with complimentary coffee and staff ready to answer questions at the Solutions Counter, you immediately feel at home in the store.

2. Prepared foods for a busy families
Island residents are eager for more prepared food options on Mercer Island. Get ready, because the options are plentiful and diverse at New Season. The offerings include fresh seasonal dishes made by in-house chefs, a hot wok bar, and made-to-order sandwiches.  The Mercer Island store will also feature a “Fire and Flavor” station offering additional sandwich options and meals inspired by South American classic comfort food. With comfortable indoor and outdoor dining areas, you can stay and enjoy your meal at the store. (See #10)

3. Sip. Beer and wine by the glass.
Enjoy chef-prepared snacks and beer and wine by the glass at the in-store counter, Sip. Fill growlers, sample local wines, and catch up with friends. With weekly beer and wine tastings, grocery shopping just got a whole lot more enjoyable.

4. Freshly baked European-style artisan breads
A variety of artisan breads are baked daily in the bakery.  New Seasons offers 14 varieties, including organic sourdough, organic seven grain, organic ciabatta, and focaccia.  One taste of the olive ciabatta, and I was sold for life!

5. A one-stop shop
New Seasons is truly the one-stop shop! Grab a cappuccino at the espresso counter and a bundle of gorgeous flowers at the floral-design studio. Choose from fresh, sustainable fish, local meats and cheeses, and organic produce. Grind your own nut butter and find wellness products for healthy living.

6. The perfect mix of gourmet and traditional grocery products
Quoting directly from the New Seasons website, “At New Seasons, you’ll find the best mix of local and organic favorites with conventional classics—from free-range chicken to Frosted Flakes®. We’re all about choice, so you can feed everyone at the table, no matter their food preference or diet.”  So, don’t fret! That picky eater in your house will be well served by New Seasons.

7. A champion for small, local producers
You will find many of your local favorites on the shelves at New Seasons and will likely discover a few new gems! Small, local producers found at New Seasons include: Seven Red Tagines (Mercer Island), Parfait Ice Cream (Seattle), NuFlours (Seattle), Mt. Townsend Creamery (Port Townsend), Flying M Livestock (Ellensburg), and Botsford Valley Farm (Olympia).

8. Nutritional guides and consultations
Staff nutritionists select and promote products (everything from tortillas to condiments) on a quarterly basis that support healthy living. You can find these selections marked on the store shelves and learn more about them online. The nutritionists also offer classes, recipes, and free one-on-one (hour-long) consultations.  On Friday, November 11th, the Mercer Island-store nutritionist will be offering healthy snacking ideas and answering questions about New Seasons free nutrition programs from 10 am to 5 pm.

9.  A partner in community giving
Partnering with local non-profits is a mission for all New Seasons Market locations. This tradition of community giving will continue on Mercer Island. Every day, Mercer Island Youth & Family Services, St. Monica’s Friends for the Needy, Hopelink, or New Horizons will collect food that cannot be sold in the store but is still safe and healthy to eat.  Additionally, customers will be able to donate to organizations, including the City of Mercer Island’s Parks & Recreation Department and Sound Generations, through the company’s Bag It Forward reusable bag credit program, giving customers the choice to donate the savings to a local non-profit.

10.  A new community gathering space
The New Seasons’ Portland stores were each uniquely designed, inspired by the local community and built to offer a welcoming gathering space to community shoppers. The same will be true for our local store. Designed with the Mercer Island community in mind, the store will include comfortable indoor seating and a covered outdoor dining area for family and friends to gather. Natural materials, like reclaimed Douglas fir from Seattle’s historic 1909 Union Stables, have been used to add warmth and character to the fresh, renovated space (formerly Albertson’s).

Will we see you there? If you haven’t marked your calendar already, be sure to visit New Seasons Market on Mercer Island for their Grand Opening on November 10th.  (We have the schedule of festivities and complete store details HERE.)

Learn more about New Seasons Market at:  www.newseasonsmarket.com/our-stores/mercerisland/
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