Whole Foods Market in downtown Jacksonville celebrated its grand opening Thursday, May 21.
The grocery store anchoring the $250 million One Riverside development in the Brooklyn neighborhood brings a full-service, high-end grocer to an area that has long lacked walkable grocery options.
Is Whole Foods in downtown Jacksonville open?
The downtown Jacksonville Whole Foods opened early after initial projections of a Sept. 30 retail completion goal, according to the Downtown Investment Authority.
The first 300 shoppers on opening day received a Whole Foods Market limited-edition tote bag and a Secret Saver card featuring offers up to $100 off.
Customers also were able to enjoy samples from La Gringuita Gourmet Cookies and coffee from Bold Bean Coffee Roasters on opening morning.
Why did Whole Foods open ahead of schedule?
The shift from a fall timeline to a spring opening reflects accelerated construction and tenant build-out progress at One Riverside.
The store’s interior build-out permit was issued in 2025, and the broader development has rapidly filled with tenants, indicating strong leasing momentum.
Where is the new Whole Foods located in Jacksonville?
The new store is located at 1 Riverside Ave. in the Brooklyn neighborhood of downtown’s northbank.
It sits within the One Riverside mixed-use development, positioned at the base of the Acosta Bridge along the St. Johns River and near Riverside Avenue and the Emerald Trail corridor.
What is the new Whole Foods in downtown Jacksonville?
The store spans roughly 38,000 square feet and includes full grocery departments, prepared foods and dine-in seating.
This also features over 800 local items from over 115 Florida-based suppliers as well.
What is One Riverside?
One Riverside is a major mixed-use redevelopment project transforming the former site of The Florida Times-Union into a dense urban hub.
The development includes hundreds of residential units, riverfront retail and restaurants, fitness and lifestyle tenants and structured parking.
The Whole Foods Market is the anchor tenant, meaning it’s expected to drive daily foot traffic and support surrounding businesses. City leaders and developers have said they see the project as a key step in revitalizing downtown Jacksonville and increasing residential density.
What other businesses are coming to One Riverside?
Whole Foods won’t open alone. The surrounding retail spaces are filling with complementary tenants, including a boutique fitness studio, a specialty donut shop, a riverfront restaurant concept and wellness and beauty services.
The development is already fully leased, reinforcing expectations that the area will become a high-traffic destination once the grocery store opens.
Why is Whole Foods in downtown important in Jacksonville?
The arrival of Whole Foods Market is widely viewed as a turning point for downtown living. It is part of a larger plan to improve livability, walkability and daily convenience in downtown while adding retail and dining options for revitalization efforts.
Downtown Jacksonville has struggled historically with grocery access, making this a critical piece of infrastructure for long-term residential growth.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Whole Foods in downtown Jacksonville is now open. Here’s what we know
Reporting by Alexandria Mansfield, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
