The Whole Foods Market in Walnut Creek, California, on Ygnacio Valley Road is a relatively new store. It’s in the Encina Grande location in Walnut Creek.
There was a Walnut Creek Whole Foods a bit further down towards downtown, just past Broadway Plaza. That original one is smaller and on the older side, though. It’s more of a traditional style store, with narrower aisles and fewer items on offer.
The newest Whole Foods at Encina Grande, however, is larger and has more of the modern style of Whole Foods. You still have the fresh produces and meats section that Whole Foods is known for, but there’s also a lot more prepared food.
- There’s a much larger meat section than the original store, with about 20 feet of meet displays
- They have a a large cheese section, where the cheeses are arranged in a big wooden display that stacks them vertically and makes them easier to browse
- The newer store has a whole variety of different wines and other kinds of alcohol
They also have a small Warehouse-type space almost in the front where they fulfill a lot of the local delivery orders for Whole Foods through Amazon. It’s a cool example of Whole Foods’ high-tech change.
Really the only downside is that the older store has more of a sense of community. You might run into people you know, and lots of local cyclists stop there for a bite to eat, since that location is served by a trail and has a bike repair station.
The newer location is great for shopping, but it’s a bit more isolated from the community. Still, if you want the best prepared foods, wine and cheese, it’s a great place to shop.
How to Visit
The newest Walnut Creek Whole Foods is at 2941 Ygnacio Valley Road in the Encina Grande location, kind of by the border with Concord. There’s ample parking–another benefit vs the downtown location!
