(Disclosure: I received compensation in exchange for my time promoting the grand opening of Fresh Thyme. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.)
This Wednesday, September 30th my 4-year-old and I attended the Grand Opening Day of the NEW Fresh Thyme in Bloomington with hundreds of other excited Twin Cities shoppers.
I LOVE shopping at quality grocery stores, and I have to tell you, there were many good reasons this store was busy – the most obvious for us being the enjoyable experience we had from beginning to end!
With its warm, bright and clean farmhouse feel, Fresh Thyme feels like a weekend farmers market in the summer, but is also like a cross between a neighborhood grocery store and a natural foods store. Their mission is to improve the way communities eat by offering all of this:
- a natural meat department
- healthy deli foods to go
- bakery goods
- bulk food
- produce department with around 170 organic offerings
- natural and organic groceries, dairy and frozen
- and over 7000 (!) varieties of vitamins, supplements and natural body care products!
Fresh Thyme is also passionate about anything and everything “local” – from their produce to their products to their employees and organizations they support. I could see how involved they are in the community – from their partnerships with (and gifts to) Bridging MN and the Bloomington Fine Arts Council, to the local vendors and musicians celebrating with them this week!
Local bluegrass musicians King Wilkie’s Dream were performing fun, lively music as guests shopped throughout the store.
Fresh and colorful is how I’d best describe the variety you’ll find at this store. The food throughout the produce section and the bakery and beyond was top quality with a huge selection of organic choices. And many were at great sale prices such as $.99 for a pint of grape tomatoes or $.39 for carrots or green onions – you can see their weekly flyer on their website here.
Fresh bread, cookies and muffins, to-go beverages and meals, and so much more to see:
You can find just about any kind of meat and fish from their extensive butcher department, including grass-fed and organic meat. Fresh Thyme also offers over 12 varieties of natural, handmade sausage – made in-store daily. Fresh Thyme’s recipes use all natural seasonings with no MSG. We got to try some natural sausage in the store and bought a box (we love sausage in our house and I was very happy to find tasty sausage with no preservatives!).
I think fresh-squeezed orange juice IS THE BEST but I have a hard time finding it, so I was SO happy to find an abundance of fresh-squeezed juices with many samples to try nearby! I bought a big jug of the fresh-squeezed orange juice for $6.99. Nothing beats fresh-squeezed orange juice with breakfast!!!!
There are over 300 bins of natural and organic self-serve bulk items. Bulk items range from grains, granola, beans, snack items and more. Something VERY exciting for a 4-year-old, clearly (ha – I think he’s imagining all the mischief he could get into in this aisle!)!
I was really impressed with the “fill your own” honey dispensers, offering agave nectar as well. You could also fill a container with cooking oil from a carousel nearby featuring many different varieties (including, of course, olive oil).
BUILD. YOUR. OWN. PIZZA! Each store includes a Fresh Thyme Kitchen where their staff will put together your own customized pizza or you can order a hot sandwich to go. They also feature prepared salads and meals as well as a full salad bar. How easy is that for a quick meal on the go for yourself or your whole family?
There’s SO much more to see at Fresh Thyme in Bloomington (go visit their website to learn more and see the latest specials!). A few more things I want to highlight:
- Gluten-sensitive? No worries! There are over 1,600 Gluten Free products in every store.
- Love coffee? There’s a whole aisle with small batch, locally roasted premium bulk coffee beans.
- There’s CANDY. Your kids will love it and will want to fill a bag so be prepared!
- Your kids can play “Spot the Tractor.” Fresh Thyme hides a small red tractor in the store and it’s up to young ones to spot it. I didn’t know this when I visited but learned afterward from Nikki at Minnemama Adventures (check out her awesome review, too!).
Fresh Thyme is open 7:00am – 10:00pm daily and is located at:
2100 W. 80 ½ St.
Bloomington, MN 55431
There’s a parking lot right in front of the store, but if it’s full, don’t worry! There’s also an underground parking lot with carts and an elevator that goes directly into the store!
The grand opening festivities continue through this weekend with vendor demos, entertainment and giveaways. Stay tuned for more family-friendly events by following them online!
I think Fresh Thyme is how a grocery store SHOULD be, and so I’m excited for more stores to open around Minnesota so everyone will have a Fresh Thyme near them!
For more information visit:
www.freshthyme.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshThymeBloomington
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FreshThymeFM