This article was originally published on Charlotte Business Journal on August 2, 2021 here: https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2021/08/02/lowes-foods-adding-charlotte-area.html

 

Lowes Foods has set its sights on Huntersville.

The Winston-Salem-based grocer says it will open a roughly 27,000-square-foot concept store at 14021 Boren St. — formerly home to Earth Fare.

No timetable was available for when that store will open.

“This store is the next step in the Lowes Foods brand transformation from typical supermarket to differentiated store to, now, a community hub,” says Lowes Foods President Tim Lowe. “The Huntersville store is designed to serve a variety of needs for our guests. It will be the place for a morning coffee, family dinner on the go, beer with a friend, or picking up groceries curbside.”

Expect that store’s design to be similar to a food hall, with the option to eat in store or take food home.

There will be selections for made-to-order food as well as grab-and-go options.

There’s Sammy’s for sandwiches and salads, with breakfast, lunch and dinners options. The Smokehouse dishes up wood-smoked meats — including beef, pork, chicken, and salmon — while Pick & Prep offers packaged, grab-and-go fruits and veggies that can be customized for shoppers. Chicken Kitchen features all things chicken, from fried chicken to chicken noodle soup. Other options include house-made sausages, fresh-baked breads and the Beer Den.

Plans call for the store to offer entertainment as well. A mezzanine area can be booked for events such as birthday parties, book clubs and team celebrations. It also will serve as a gathering spot for activities, from trivia night to beer and wine tastings.

The store will feature a “frictionless” shopping experience. Everything can be ordered online for pickup curbside or in store, with items prepared and gathered for the shopper.

Lowes expects to hire 100 employees for the Huntersville store. It will open a hiring center this week.

Lowes operates 80 full-service supermarkets in the Carolinas. That includes two other Charlotte-area locations in Mooresville and Harrisburg.

Austin Easter of MPV Properties represented Lowes Foods on the real estate transaction, and Dawn Hoover with The Shopping Center Group represented the landlord.

 

Cover Photo: Lowes Foods in Cary, NC — provided by Lowes Foods