18 Things You'll Find — and 1 You Won't — at the First 365 by Whole Foods Market

POPSUGAR Photography | Lindsay Miller
POPSUGAR Photography | Lindsay Miller

Whole Foods opens its very first 365 by Whole Foods Market Wednesday in the Silverlake neighborhood of LA, and at a sneak preview of the store last night, I got a look at the tech-friendly, fresh-focused new grocer. It's one of three locations set to open in the coming months — Lake Oswego, OR, and Bellevue, WA, are next — and one of 19 stores the chain plans to open nationwide between now and 2017.

Much of the early press about the store has focused on 365 as an effort to get away from that "whole paycheck" moniker with more cost-effective offerings. What I found was a smaller version of Whole Foods with an emphasis on convenience, technology, locally driven ingredients — and yes, savings. I asked Jeff Turnas, who is overseeing 365 for Whole Foods, if the stores were also built with a younger consumer in mind given all those features. "I look at it as the sort of millennial mindset. I like things fast, and I'm good with digital — but I'm not a millennial," he laughed. "I think we're speaking to a new way of shopping and the way people are living their lives . . . it's meant to be get in and get out, but you can trust the Whole Foods quality."

Read on for a look inside the new store — and see what you can expect when 365 comes to your 'hood.

01
A Rewards Program

A Rewards Program

Finally! 365 has a rewards program and app that gives members access to regular "Yay For You!" and "Gimme 10" offers — as well as a $5 off $25 discount on your first purchase.

02
Pay-by-the-Piece Produce

Pay-by-the-Piece Produce

As a move to reduce food waste and offer more convenience, 365 will sell most produce by the piece rather than by the pound.

03
teaBOT
365 by Whole Foods Market

teaBOT

The teaBOT is a machine that allows you to choose between 18 different teas and herbs to create your own custom blend. True story: I tried to get close to it yesterday, but it was easily the most popular new feature in the store.

04
Allegro Coffee and Wine/Beer Bar

Allegro Coffee and Wine/Beer Bar

Friends of 365 is kind of like 365's version of a pop-up shop. The program grants businesses an opportunity to open a location inside the market. In Silverlake, Allegro coffee is one of those Friends. The coffee bar offers cold brew ($4), lattes ($4), and local and seasonal wines ($7) and beers ($6).

05
A Vegan Fast-Food Joint

A Vegan Fast-Food Joint

Another Friend of 365 is by Chloe. The restaurant is bringing its 100 percent vegan, plant-based fast-casual concept to the Silverlake 365, hot on the heels of its first popular NYC location. Faves include the mac and cheese with sweet potato and cashew cheese sauce and shiitake bacon. You can also dig into brunch specials like the goji- and chia-studded smoothie bowl and quinoa hash browns with sour cream, smoked paprika, and scallion.

06
Fresh Pasta For Less Than $3

Fresh Pasta For Less Than $3

Severino Pasta Company is behind 365's range of fresh pastas — and prices range from just $2.49 to $2.99 on average for packages of gnocchi, rigatoni, and raviolini. Carbs, here we come!

07
Convenience Foods With a Focus on "Trending and Ethnic" Flavors

Convenience Foods With a Focus on "Trending and Ethnic" Flavors

Shoppers can order a range of foods for takeaway at digital kiosks before they shop and pick them up when they're ready to go. (Orders typically take about 10 minutes to complete.) 365 will even offer full-size pizzas.

08
This Crazy-Good Carrot Dog

This Crazy-Good Carrot Dog

Among the to-go food offerings is the carrot dog. Yup — instead of a hot dog, it's a carrot. I was pleasantly suprised by the satisfyingly smoky BBQ flavor, the hearty wheat bun, and the avocado sauce and cilantro topping.

09
Local Art

Local Art

As a way of celebrating the community, 365 will feature locally inspired — and Instagram-worthy — art in each store.

10
10 Percent Off Daily Deals

10 Percent Off Daily Deals

As part of the rewards program, every end display in 365 stores will feature a rotating selection of "Gimme 10" items for 10 percent off — and there's no limit to how many of any item a member can buy.

11
A Focus on Organic, BioDynamic Wines

A Focus on Organic, BioDynamic Wines

In addition to a whole row dedicated to eco-friendly wines, there will also be organic whiskey and tequila on offer.

12
An In-Store Delectable App For Selecting the Right Booze

An In-Store Delectable App For Selecting the Right Booze

365 partnered with the app Delectable to help shoppers pick the best wine or liquor to go with their meal on convenient tablet displays. You can even scan a bottle's barcode to pull up customer reviews and details on what foods it pairs well with.

13
Pasture-Raised, Non GMO Eggs by Red Hill Farms

Pasture-Raised, Non GMO Eggs by Red Hill Farms

These chicken-friendly eggs are unique to 365 stores.

14
Self Checkout

Self Checkout

If you're taking home five or fewer items, 365 offers a self-checkout kiosk that accepts Apple Pay or credit cards.

15
David Chang's Ssam Sauce

David Chang's Ssam Sauce

Any Momofuku fan knows that chef David Chang's Ssam sauce is totally addicting — and now 365 will sling bottles of the spicy Korean-inspired concoction so you can have it at home. Chang, who was at yesterday's preview event, says he likes to use it as a salad dressing.

16
Hot and Cold Bars Will Charge by Container Size — Not Weight

Hot and Cold Bars Will Charge by Container Size — Not Weight

In an effort to keep things quick and cost-effective, the price of your food from the hot and cold bars at 365 stores won't be based on weight. Instead, you'll be charged a flat fee based on the container size you choose ($5.50 for a small, $7.50 for a medium, and $9.50 for a large.)

17
Fresh Daily Pastries by Suzanne Goin's Larder Bakery

Fresh Daily Pastries by Suzanne Goin's Larder Bakery

Allegro coffee bar, and the store as a whole, will offer savory and sweet pastries made fresh, by hand, each day by Chef Goin's bakers. This is pretty major, considering that Goin is the woman behind celebrated LA culinary mainstays like a.o.c. and The Tavern.

18
Digital Pricing Displays

Digital Pricing Displays

All prices will be displayed digitally to reduce paper waste — and the smart technology will also have icons that let you know if foods are gluten-free, vegan, or on sale.

19
No Butcher or Fishmonger

No Butcher or Fishmonger

365 stores won't have a butcher or a seafood counter. Instead, all meats and fish products are prepackaged.