Kimberton Whole Foods Coming To East King
The organic grocer plans to open its fifth location on Malvern's redeveloped East King Street.
Kimberton Whole Foods, an organic grocery store with four locations in the region, plans to open its fifth store in Malvern.
Developer Eli Kahn confirmed Friday that the business will lease space in the East King Street redevelopment complex slated to open in summer 2013.
The store will be 5,000 square feet and will employ about 10 to 20 people, according to Kimberton Whole Foods owner Terry Brett.
"We have heard really great things about the Malvern community," Brett said. "There seems to be a real identity about Malvern, and that's what's really exciting for us. We want to be a local community store. We want to know your name when you come in, like Cheers."
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Kimberton Whole Foods started out as a 400-square-foot farm store on Seven Stars Farm in 1986, and today has locations in Kimberton, Douglassville, Downingtown and Ottsville. The store sells Seven Stars Farm organic yogurt, one of the most popular farm-produced organic yogurts in the country, Brett said.
A big part of the company's mission is to advance the cause of healthy eating while supporting local agriculture, Brett said. He's a supporter of Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture and would be interested in working with Malvern area growers.
In addition to organic produce, the store will sell chemical-free supplements and health and beauty products.
"Right now we have 80 local vendors, and purchase $1.3 million dollars in local products [annually]," Brett said.
Though the new location will be configured similarly to the other four stores, the expansion represents a big change in the company's strategy.
"This is the first time moving towards Whole Foods and Trader Joe's," Brett said. "We generally move in the direction away from them, to areas where they aren't."
Kimberton Whole Foods in Malvern will also be competing with a considerable organic produce section in Wegmans. The bold move is the result of confidence based on strong sales and increased brand recognition.
"They do a great job, but we've got double-digit growth this year," Brett said. "Business is really good."
See also:
What Businesses Are Coming to King Street?
Uptown Worthington: A List of What's Coming
Developer: The Whip Tavern Coming to Malvern
Video: Construction Equipment Crunches Debris at East King Street Redevelopment Site
Susan
7:45 am on Saturday, September 22, 2012
Fantastic addition! Long have I missed the old Shop n Bag, this is going to be an even better option. Counting the plus's for Malvern, we will have a terrific grocery store, in addition to a great butcher, Worrel's, terrific clothing stores, including Note Bene and Englund's, convenience with WaWa and the newly reopened Mobil ( have you noticed their gas prices are very much in line with other stations?), etc., etc. now all we need is a liquor store! What's not to love about Malvern?
Carol Meerschaert, MBA, RD
9:24 am on Saturday, September 22, 2012
Warms my dietitian heart! Yea for whole foods and yes to walking to the store!
Regina DiLabbio Klugh King
10:21 am on Saturday, September 22, 2012
I still miss the vanilla cokes at Mary Wilson's in the 1950's! And hooray for all the hoofers who will be able to hot foot it to it. But a liquor store needed in Malvern? Oh are the Quaker forefathers and foremothers turning over in their graves -- they weren't too happy when the Malvern Inn served demon rum back in the day!!! We didn't need a liquor store in ye olde borough; you got a 50-cent quart of Schlitz at Lou Thomas' bar and all the Italians made their own wine!!! :-) A toast: Here's to Malvern reinventing itself. Again!
Amy Finkbiner
10:33 am on Saturday, September 22, 2012
Just to be clear, *Kimberton* Whole Foods is a small chain that had its name before the big Whole Foods chain came on the scene. Either way, this is an awesome addition to East King!
Larry Zappaterrini
10:49 am on Saturday, September 22, 2012
This certainly made my day!
Pete Kennedy
11:00 am on Saturday, September 22, 2012
Definitely great news.
On a related note: I wonder if the people who wrote the "Cheers" theme appreciate their influence on a generation of entrepreneurs.
Dave Hoag
11:29 am on Saturday, September 22, 2012
What are the other stores that will be in this new complex?
Jim Knowles
11:39 am on Saturday, September 22, 2012
Any chance we'll see a Hooters on East King?
Keeping my fingers crossed!
Kristin Thomas
5:41 pm on Saturday, September 22, 2012
I love it!!!! Malvern is becoming the town we always hoped it would be - again. We made a big bet when moving into the borough 7 years ago that someday soon downtown, the train station, the turnpike, the bike trails, the parks, the shopping - they would all be improved or invented. Congrats to all of us who are lucky enough to live in this little village.
Kristin Thomas
5:52 pm on Saturday, September 22, 2012
Will the KWF have a bakery/cafe? This plus the Whip Tavern - great news! And REI, Chipotle, etc coming to Worthington. Vanguard's campus expansion. The new turnpike ramp, new CVT connections, new playgrounds, soooooooo many great projects are going on in Malvern. We'd love an ice cream shop too.
Jared
11:13 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012
Hopefully the local police can get people to stop at the "stop sign" next to the flying pig so pedesrains don't get runover! Almost every vehicle coming down the hill and making the right onto king street roll right through it. They never look for people crossing either! I have almost been hit a couple times walking my dog.
Kristin Thomas
11:20 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012
And PLEASE stop cutting through on East Broad and blowing the stop sign on Minor and Broad. Signs are posted that it is not a through street. Many, many, many young children live on the street and would like to play or walk to the bus stop or park safely (there are no sidewalks). This is only going to get worse with more traffic. If you are late to work or Villa, take an extra 10 seconds and go down to Old Lincoln like you are supposed to please.
Kathi Clapham
7:54 am on Thursday, October 4, 2012
I would LOVE to see Beer Garden West open here as well!