Specialty grocer The Fresh Market to open at Seminole City Center
The Fresh Market is taking over the former Earth Fare grocery store in the 424,000-square-foot Seminole City Center retail plaza at 7774 113th Street North in Seminole.
Earth Fare, a grocery chain that specializes in organic and health food, opened its 24,000-square-foot Seminole store in 2016; however, the company filed for bankruptcy in 2020 and shuttered 50 stores throughout the country. The grocer reopened in the open-air Seminole plaza in 2021, but it later closed and the space has remained vacant.
Build out on The Fresh Market is underway and is likely to open later this year.
Dozens of workers, including those from Alvarez Plumbing and Air Conditioning, can be seen on-site working on the buildout for The Fresh Market.
The Greensboro, North Carolina-based niche grocer is known for its fresh produce and natural and organic products, and is described as having an "Old-World European atmosphere."
The Fresh Market has over 160 stores in 22 states.
The stores include a bakery, a full-service meat counter, seafood, over 200 imported and domestic cheeses, an olive bar, and fresh-cut flowers.
The Fresh Market has several existing stores in Tampa Bay including locations in St. Petersburg, Carrollwood, Clearwater, South Tampa, and University Park.
The 22,000-square-foot store in St. Petersburg opened in 2010 at 2900 4th Street North. The St. Pete store was a major milestone for The Fresh Market with the location becoming the company’s 100th location.
An opening date for the Seminole store has not been announced.
The Fresh Market stores typically open every day at 8 a.m. and close at 9 p.m.
In other local grocer news, discount supermarket chain Aldi opened its newest store at 6765 22nd Avenue North near Tyrone Square Mall earlier this month. The space was formerly occupied by Hitchcock's Green Market and Lucky's Supermarket.
Additionally, the highly-anticipated Whole Foods Market in St. Petersburg is set to open on February 28th at 201 38th Avenue North.