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New Whole Foods In Danbury To Offer Burgers And Shakes Section

DANBURY, Conn. - As with every Whole Foods, the new Danbury store will have elements that focus on the local community when it opens its doors Friday, May 17. 

The Burger and Shake Bar is unique to the new Danbury Whole Foods that will open on Friday, May 17.

The Burger and Shake Bar is unique to the new Danbury Whole Foods that will open on Friday, May 17.

Photo Credit: Alissa Smith
A new "build your own" bar for the Danbury location will be a noodle bowl and a sandwich bar.

A new "build your own" bar for the Danbury location will be a noodle bowl and a sandwich bar.

Photo Credit: Alissa Smith
Thus far, the Danbury Whole Foods will be the only location with a "fill your own bottle" of coconut water.

Thus far, the Danbury Whole Foods will be the only location with a "fill your own bottle" of coconut water.

Photo Credit: Alissa Smith
All of the signs at the new Danbury Whole Foods have been repurposed from different local places, all meant to reflect the history of Danbury.

All of the signs at the new Danbury Whole Foods have been repurposed from different local places, all meant to reflect the history of Danbury.

Photo Credit: Alissa Smith
This is the cheese and prepared foods section at the new Danbury Whole Foods

This is the cheese and prepared foods section at the new Danbury Whole Foods

Photo Credit: Alissa Smith
These four tables are made from a sapling of the Danbury Charter Oak.

These four tables are made from a sapling of the Danbury Charter Oak.

Photo Credit: Alissa Smith
Every Whole Foods store has a bulk sales wall, and the Danbury location is no different.

Every Whole Foods store has a bulk sales wall, and the Danbury location is no different.

Photo Credit: Alissa Smith
This is a salad bar at the Danbury Whole Foods, which will open on Friday, May 17.

This is a salad bar at the Danbury Whole Foods, which will open on Friday, May 17.

Photo Credit: Alissa Smith

In honor of the former occupant of the space, Whole Foods in Danbury has incorporated a "Burgers and Shakes" section to its prepared foods section. 

"It's our own personal riff on The Dairy Bar, which we know used to be here," said Michael Sinatra, regional Whole Foods public relations officer. "It's just a small way for us to tip our cap to what this location always was. We're really proud to be here at this location."

The new Whole Foods is the main attraction at the Shops at Marcus Dairy, a retail development built on the site of Marcus Dairy and its beloved lunch counter eatery. 

There will also be four tables made from one of Danbury's Charter Oak saplings, all done to celebrate the heritage and history of this area, Sinatra said.

"Every store has the power to buy from its own local growers," he said, which helps to keep the store more connected with the region's farms and producers.

Also unique to the Danbury Whole Foods, he said, will be a coconut water dispenser. Customers will be able to fill up their own containers with the coconut water in a similar fashion to the bulk section. A Make Your Own Noodle Bar and Make Your Own Sandwich Bar will also be new additions in the Danbury store.

As with all the stores, the meat and seafood sections are held to exacting standards. All the seafood for the Danbury store will come direct from docks in Massachusetts and are ensured to be sustainable, Sinatra said. The meats are held to a grading system that Whole Foods partners with Global Animal Partnership to ensure that the animals are treated fairly, he said. 

The store will open for a traditional bread breaking at 8:30 a.m. Friday before the official opening at 9 a.m. 

In celebration of the fact that the Danbury location is the 350th Whole Foods store, the first 350 customers will receive a free pound of chicken and a free pound of shrimp. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. the "Whole Body" Department will be holding an early bird sale.

As a way to honor Danbury and the surrounding areas, 5 percent days will be held to benefit local organizations  On Friday, the Danbury Historical Society will be the beneficiary of 5 percent of all the sales made on opening day. 

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