Longmonters will have a new place to shop at month’s end.
Alfalfa’s Market has announced its new Longmont location will put out the welcome mat at 7 a.m. Oct. 30 The store is taking over the former Lucky’s Market space at 700 Ken Pratt Blvd.
“Longmont is a city that has a rich agricultural history and I’m beyond thrilled to be part of a store opening here,” said store director Ericka Kiser. “We look forward to working with and serving Longmont in the best ways possible.”
Customers who visit the store will notice differences from other Alfalfa’s locations including a refurbished minimalist design with a focus on food, a full-service coffee bar and a fresh juice counter, according to the company. They also will see a produce lab at which staff can interact with customers and give presentations on topics such as knife skills, cooking methods and tasting experiences.
The new store will bring more than 4,000 Colorado products to the area, including many local brands that will take their place next to national brands on store shelves, according to the company. Meats from Buckner Family Ranch are going to be there, along with selections from Sascha’s Spices, Kilt Farms and Ollin Farms. As part of the effort to stay as local as possible, Alfalfa’s welcomes inquiries from other local companies who want to be sold at the store.
Sascha Stanger of Sascha’s seasonings said, “In a time of corporate America, we small business or product lines really depend on grocers like Alfalfa’s Markets to survive. I am so excited for this opening. I’m based in Longmont, so I’m both a vendor and a customer.”
Given that it is opening during a pandemic, the store also is planning accommodations to keep customers and employees safe. In addition to requiring masks to be worn, increased sanitation, social distance markers and reminder signs, Alfalfa’s also will offer curbside pickup and online ordering for delivery at its recently redeveloped website.
The store also plans to serve shoppers who have gotten used to ordering takeout from restaurants during the pandemic. Food and Wine Best New Chef award winner James Mazzio recently joined the chain to head up its specialty foods department and will be crafting a menu of restaurant-quality meals sandwiches, salads and side dishes, according to the company.
COVID-19 has altered the store’s grand opening plans, but full details of how it will be celebrated were not yet available as of the posting of this story.
