Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op relocation on pace for next year

The next iteration of the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op is still on track to open right behind Temple Coffee at 29th and R Streets in April 2016.

General manager Paul Cultrera shared details, floor plans and artist renderings at a luncheon Friday, emphasizing the four-level parking garage and lot with 118 spaces available during weekdays and an additional 198 spaces on nights and weekends. There will also be 36 sheltered bike parking spots, with some big enough for bikes with trailers, and a bicycle repair station.

“Parking has been our big issue, and with more parking, we think we’ll have an easier time getting people in,” Cultrera said, alluding to future competition with a Whole Foods opening in Midtown. “We’ll have to do things we’ve never done before,” he added, a.k.a. more aggressive outreach and traditional advertising.

The $9.5 million project will expand the grocery store from 16,000 square feet to 26,000 square feet plus a 16,000 square foot mezzanine. Artist renderings depict a modern, clean look with lots of natural wood, plus an emphasis on eco-friendly materials. The upstairs will house offices and classrooms for the co-op’s learning center as well as indoor dining and balcony dining areas. The downstairs grocery store will feature expanded produce, meat and prepared food departments.

Ah yes, the food! Cultrera said there will be a big self-service hot and cold food bar and larger grab-and-go section along with separate bars for burritos, sandwiches, pizza, ice cream and coffee. And for the first time, the co-op will do much of its baking and desserts in-house—probably not bread-level baking, Cultrera said, but yes to cookies, pies and pastries galore.

Here are a few of those renderings:

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