Whole Foods Expansion in NYC: 3 New Locations & More Exciting Food News!

Whole Foods Is Taking Over NYC!

Get ready for a Whole Foods explosion in Manhattan! The popular grocery chain is opening three new locations in the city, including a spot in the East Village, a smaller format store in Hell's Kitchen, and another smaller format store on the Upper East Side.

The East Village location will be replacing an Associated supermarket at 409 E. 14th Street and Avenue A, and will offer a smaller footprint compared to traditional Whole Foods locations. These smaller locations are known as Whole Foods Market Daily Shop and prioritize takeout, prepared foods, fresh produce, meat, seafood, and more.

Soothr: A Taste of Thai in LIC

One of NYC's favorite Thai restaurants, Soothr, is expanding beyond its East Village home, bringing its delicious flavors to Long Island City (LIC). The new location, boasting 120 seats, will be opening in the spring at 25-20 43rd Avenue, at Hunter Street. This news comes hot on the heels of Soothr's collaboration with Chalong, which will see them open a Thai barbecue spot on the Upper West Side next year.

Brooklyn Gets a New Oyster Reef

By 2029, Brooklyn will be home to 90 million oysters living across 6.5 acres near Canarsie, thanks to the Billion Oyster Project. Construction for this massive oyster reef will begin next summer, aiming to improve the health of Jamaica Bay and its ecosystem. The project has secured a grant of $968,000 from US Rep. Hakeem Jeffries.

Gjelina Pops Up in the East Village

Popular California eatery Gjelina is bringing its delicious menu to the East Village with a pop-up at the Standard hotel (25 Cooper Square at East Fifth Street). The pop-up will run through August 31, serving dinner daily. This temporary move comes as the restaurant rebuilds its Bond Street location after a fire. Reservations are available on Open Table.