Bozeman, Montana – Beginning on Wednesday, February 1st, Bozeman residents have a new grocery choice. For the first time, the 30,000-square-foot new Whole Foods shop welcomed customers.
“ I came out three times since 2 a.m.,” says Bozeman Resident Jodina Ardito. “I’ve been planning this for weeks now.”
Ardito was the first client to enter the store, an event she had been anticipating all evening.
Before the store opened at 9 a.m., dozens of people braved the chilly weather to stand in line while dancing and warming their hands.
“I parked at 4:30 a.m. I was going to stay up all night so I parked there for a bit. I just took a nap until I saw more people show up,” says MSU student Owen Cantrell.
Cantrell, who was born and raised nearby, expressed his enthusiasm for Bozeman’s newest resident.
“I think it’s just awesome. I love seeing the growth in Bozeman. I mean, some people don’t like it, but I’m all for it,” says Cantrell.
The store manager, Kate Hensley Luna, claims that they have made an effort to build ties with the community.
“We’ve got a really great partnership with HRDC. As part of the Nourishing our Neighborhood program we actually donated a van where they can actually redistribute food to those in need,” says Luna.
According to Luna, the business recruited about 130 people, many of whom were delighted to see a line forming outside.
“It feels really awesome, you know, to be well received. Our intention is to help nourish this community and so it’s really awesome that other people are really excited to have us here as well,” says Luna.
Ardito exclaims how happy she is to be a part of something wonderful in the neighborhood.
“It’s like history in the making. The very first Whole Foods in Montana and I got to be here for it,” she says.
Every day from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., the store will be open at the Gallatin Valley Mall.
