Specialty grocery opens second Lexington store with ready-made meal focus
Lexington’s second Fresh Market location is open.
Doors at the chain’s second area grocery store opened to shoppers Dec. 10 at 8 a.m. at 2321 Sir Barton Way. In the store’s first few days, guests will see discount prices, meal deals and a brand new store layout.
Compared to the chain’s first Lexington location in the Lansdowne Shoppes on Tates Creek Road, the Hamburg store is 15,000 square feet larger and has several new design components from the Fresh Market’s 2022 plan to revamp, renovate and open more stores.
“We’re excited to open our second location in Lexington and grow our presence in such a vibrant, welcoming community,” said Fresh Market CEO Brian Johnson in a statement to the Herald-Leader. “Our team looks forward to sharing a shopping experience built around fresh ingredients, chef-inspired meals and impeccable hospitality that elevates every visit.”
A big part of what makes the new location different is the LED lighting, in addition to a new layout and shelf space catered to ready-made meals, said store director Mickey Riffe during a tour of the space on Tuesday.
Up front, a case of store-made chicken salad is easy to grab. If you buy a pound of it, four croissants are included for free. In the produce section, shoppers can use a juicer for fresh-squeezed juice or pick up a bottle of their favorite flavor.
In the center of the store is what Riffe and Fresh Market call “the square.” Several stations are positioned together for shoppers to pair their made-to-order sandwich with soup, pick up fresh-made sushi, build a salad or add a variety of sides. Also at the center of the store, pizza can be bought whole or by the slice.
The new location is one of a handful of Fresh Market locations with an in-house smoker making barbecue, brisket, beans, seafood and other items for pickup.
The store also has traditional departments, including a deli, bakery and florist. The Hamburg location sells an exclusive Kentucky blue orchid for University of Kentucky fans. The new store has expanded grocery, frozen and non-alcoholic beverage sections compared to the other Lexington location.
In the store, just past wider check-out lanes, are 32 seats around a fireplace. Most of the table and chairs are equipped as charging stations and once the weather is nicer, there will be 32 outdoor seats, too.
Price tags throughout the store are digital, allowing managers to change them out quickly. Riffe said when employees tasked with putting together online orders are having trouble finding a specialty item, they can make the price tag flash for easier access.
On Dec. 13, the first 300 customers at the store’s grand opening celebration will receive a reusable bag and the first 100 guests will receive a free, full-sized bag of coffee. At 9 a.m., as part of the celebration, a more than 80-pound Parmesan wheel will be cracked to give free samples to shoppers.
The second Fresh Market location employs 85 people and is one of several grocery chains expanding in the Central Kentucky area.
The first area Publix opened in Lexington on March 5 in the Citation Point shopping center and the second opened on June 4. Another store is being built in the Chevy Chase neighborhood.
Kroger opened another Marketplace location Aug. 14 off Newtown Pike in Lexington.
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