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The Fresh Market, a chain of gourmet supermarkets based in North Carolina, will make its Treasure Coast debut Aug. 26 when it opens a store at Miracle Mile in Vero Beach just south of John's Island.
Gene Baxley Schwiers, director of recruiting and human resources at The Fresh Market, said the company is excited about opening its first Treasure Coast location.
“Everyone here has been very welcoming,” Schwiers said.
The grocer is hiring general managers, meat cutters, bakers, deli managers, gift and floral specialists, coffee and candy specialists, and seafood and cheese specialists. Schwiers said The Fresh Market would employ about 80 to 85 area residents.
The grocer will lease about half of a 37,000-square-foot storefront at the Vero Plaza, 526 21st St., the site of a former Publix Super Market. Publix moved across the street in November 2007 to a larger storefront that had previously been occupied by a Winn-Dixie Marketplace inside the Treasure Coast Plaza.
In September 2007, Publix announced plans for a Publix GreenWise Market at The Fresh Market location, but later said those plans were on hold.
“We decided to integrate a larger selection of organic and natural products into our existing Publix store at Miracle Mile, which is across the street,” said Miami-based Publix Super Markets, Inc. spokeswoman Kim Jaeger. “Further, at this time, we do not have plans to open a Publix GreenWise Market in Vero or its surrounding communities.
“We are also in the process of adding prepared food sections, including a hot and cold bar, hot soups and a wok. This is very similar to what you will find in our GreenWise Markets.”
“The quality of their food is great,” Ball said. “The Fresh Market has a way of doing business, it’s personable and their stores have a small-town feel.“
(source: tcpalm.com)
