Whole Foods Comes to Brea

Whole Foods Market will open its first North Orange County store on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 9 a.m. in Village at La Floresta in Brea. Shoppers will receive free samples and giveaways; the first 300 shoppers will receive reusable shopping bags (while supplies last). There will be food and beverage demos, a DJ and a photo booth. 

Whole Foods Market Brea offers a juice and smoothie bar, fresh poke, expanded vegan options in all departments, a coffee bar (with local Bodhi Leaf cold brew on tap), more than 1,000 hand-picked wines and bar-restaurant NOOC (an acronym for North Orange County).  

The prepared foods department features hot ramen and mazemen, which is a dry, or soup-less, ramen topped with options like spicy albacore, salmon or fresh vegetables. In the produce aisle, shoppers will find a variety of cold-pressed juices, including blends such as “Kale Yeah,” featuring Harmless Harvest coconut water, pineapple, celery and kale.

In the meat department, butchers will cut steaks to order; pork butts and beef briskets are smoked for 14 hours the night before, plus whole and heirloom chicken will be served every day.

The in-house bakery offers custom cake decorating and has indulgences for every diet, such as locally sourced Rocq macarons and aHana gluten-free-mousse cups.

With a seasonal menu, daily specials, 24 taps of local crafted beer and a brunch menu, the family-friendly NOOC offers North Orange County a new happy hour spot, or a place to grab an affordable lunch while picking up groceries.

The menu includes an assortment of small plates, salads, flatbreads and entrees with many vegan and vegetarian options and a kids’ menu. For dessert, shoppers can indulge in locally made “boozy” gelato and Rocq Vanilla Crème Brulee.  NOOC features a wide selection of wines by the glass and local brews such as Valiant Brewing from Orange, Bootleggers from Fullerton, The Bruery from Placentia, Noble Ale Works from Anaheim, Cismontane from Rancho Santa Margarita, Bottle Logic from Anaheim, and Barley Forge Brewing from Costa Mesa.

Whole Foods Market Brea also features an upstairs mezzanine with two rooms. A community kitchen and a lounge space can be rented for events and will be used to host tastings, pairings and community events. These spaces will host events almost every day, from a three-course dinner with beer pairings, to sushi making classes, to Kids’ Club events like sugar cookie decorating on Feb. 28.

The store will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

3301 Imperial Highway at Valencia Ave. in Brea.