(Photo by Dion Ogust)
The new Sunflower feels like the Sunflower we’ve all known for a generation now. Only it’s bigger, fresher, lighter, and filled with much more than it ever had before. More veggies. More things to eat right away, from coffee, tea and pastries to prepared foods of a wide diversity. Fancy cheeses, an expanded meats and seafood section. Plus all the health foods Sunflower made its name supplying, alongside a host of items geared towards an increasingly health-conscious Woodstock area.
Sure, some things need tweaking, yet. The check-out area feels a bit awkward. The natural-wood-meets-industrial-ducting, Brazil meets Ingmar Bergman look has yet to be fully completed.
“Our last phase will include foodservice including a hot/cold bar and grab and go options, expanded meat, seafood and cheese sections and a dedicated beer section,” Sunflower co-owner and spokesperson Paku Misra noted when I spoke with him about my experience in his re-opened, almost all-new store. “We are all eagerly anticipating our new food-service offerings. Once the main retail space is finished our focus will turn to our newly created, fresh kitchen. Our kitchen staff is currently working on creating a larger and varied selection of grab and go items as well as healthy items for our hot and cold salad bars.”
Misra added that Sunflower was also working on its Green Initiative program, which will add to its full roof of solar panels with two Chargepoint Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations, the “newest most energy efficient refrigeration systems” and “a conscious effort to allow for best energy flow throughout the entire store, i.e. lights, stone, wood, low e windows and insulation.”
“Sunflower would like to thank our community for taking this journey alongside with us,” he concluded. “While we acknowledge that there are still minor details that still need to be worked on, everyone has been extremely patient with us and helped support us during this massive transition…Our staff has worked tirelessly to keep the store operating even when the jackhammers were drilling and the walls were being removed and rebuilt. From working long hours to reset the store to learning how to operate in a new environment they truly represent how a team comes together to make a difference.”
A full Sunflower Grand Opening party is being planned for the early fall, Misra said, “to celebrate with the community.”
Sunflower, please be mindful of the reduction of plastic containers in your inventory. Success!
I have been shopping at Sunflower for probably 20 years. I am very happy to see the expansion of the market and I’m sure it will be a better shopping experience when it is completed. However, I am really angry over the transition into a full service fast food emporium. The amount of plastic the place uses in form of single use mini plastic boxes for their so called ‘grab n go’ section is disgraceful. Their bulk food area is a total after thought, squeezed between the vegetables and some herbs and almost EVERYTHING has been put into small bags, like most nuts. It’s great that they will put a charging station on site for those Prius customers but what about a commitment to reducing your waste stream Mr Misha? This store has clearly been designed to cater to the tourists in Woodstock and not to be a real food store.
Where is it ? Hours ..telephone number all would be helpful.