Earth Fare, a specialty organic and natural food grocery, will open its St. Johns County store Oct. 16.
The 24,000-square-foot store is in the Shoppes at St. Johns Parkway at 120 Shops Blvd. along St. Johns Parkway near County Road 210.
Before the 7 a.m. store opening, a grand-opening celebration will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, live music, giveaways and a check presentation to Landrum Middle School.
The $3,000 donation will fund the school’s Buddy Garden, which teaches students about growing healthy food.
The first 300 shoppers in line will receive gift cards valued at up to $500.
Shoppers who sign up for Earth Fare’s Healthy Rewards program will receive a free reusable tote bag. The program offers deals, the ability to earn free products and recipes.
“St. Johns is a vibrant, growing community with a demand for healthy food, and with this new store, we will provide convenient access to the cleanest assortment of products for our shoppers in the region,” said Frank Scorpiniti, president and CEO of Earth Fare, in a news release.
In addition to groceries, the St. Johns County store will feature Earth Fare’s Heirloom Juice Bar, which sells made-to-order juices and smoothies, plus fresh coffee.
Shoppers also will find prepared foods, including a salad bar, hot food bar, pizza station, sandwich counter, and packaged meals-on-the-go. There also will be an indoor and outdoor cafe with free Wi-Fi.
The store will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The St. Johns County location will offer grocery delivery powered by Instacart services.
Its the third Northeast location for Earth Fare, which has stores in Mandarin and East Arlington.
Asheville, North Carolina-based Earth Fare opened its first Jacksonville store Aug. 20, 2014, in the Atlantic North Shopping Center at Kernan and Atlantic boulevards.
On Aug. 23, 2017, it opened its second area store in the Mandarin South Shopping Center at 11700 San Jose Blvd.
The Shoppes of St. Johns Parkway is under development by Jacksonville-based Sleiman Enterprises.