Whole Foods Market continues to innovate the food shopping experience with the grand opening of their inaugural Daily Shop at 1175 Third Avenue on the Upper East Side. Roughly a quarter of the size of a typical Whole Foods Market, the new small-format store spans 9,101 square feet. Designed to cater to the daily shopper, this new concept provides customers with a quick way to grab their Whole Foods Market favorites through a shopping experience that meets their fast-paced urban lifestyle. CM&B was proudly selected as their trusted construction management partner, and were thrilled to turn their innovative vision into a monumental reality.
Although the CM&B team is over 20 years strong and 150+ projects deep with the world’s leader in natural and organic foods, this new concept shop was a unique project that included an array of complexities over the course of its construction timeline. We love a project that allows us to flex our experience and expertise to deliver for our clients—and we couldn’t be more proud of the outcome.
CM&B was engaged early in the process for initial site evaluation and to provide the value of our CM&B Method through our Pre-Development and Pre-Construction services. The team was able to lend our expertise in both food store construction and building in an urban environment , providing critical guidance during lease negotiations . We were able to provide timely direction to understand the complexities and costs that come with leasing for a grocer—from the implementation of mechanical systems, to managing site access and traffic flow on a New York City street corner. Early involvement allowed us to uncover and address the important details that would be vital to the success of the project.
Coordination and Collaboration
When working within a tight construction site, it is essential to have a highly detailed logistics plan. Our team identified and managed lead times for material deliveries, including HVAC and custom-made specialty equipment that would be shipped from overseas. This pre-planning was crucial avoid potential construction delays, as well as managing the storage for the equipment and materials in a condensed space. We worked diligently with multiple partners to communicate, collaborate, and prioritize safety, in order to efficiently maximize production while navigating construction in an active, constrained environment.
Our dedicated team worked toward an aggressive schedule to meet the client’s expedited timeline. This included working around the clock and taking on multiple shifts to complete the project on-time. Building in the heart of a dense, residential neighborhood required extra due diligence to avoid disruption to those living and working in the areas surrounding the project.
Teamwork Makes The Dream Work
A hallmark of our continued success lies in our collaborative process with not only our clients—but all industry partners involved with the project. It takes a village, and we could not be happier to have teamed up with our friends at BRR Architecture, STUDIOGEE Architecture + Design, Henderson Engineers, and Schweitzer to bring this project to life.
Congratulations to Whole Foods Market on continuing to revolutionize the food store experience and meet the needs of their consumers. We look forward to beginning construction on two new Daily Shop locations in Manhattan in 2024, and to continue working with Whole Foods Market as they expand their footprint in 2025 and beyond!
Founded in 1992, CM&B is a construction management firm with unparalleled expertise building for some of the nation’s most recognized brands, culinary geniuses, growing start-up businesses, and leading R&D companies. Ready to talk about your next project? Reach us at 781.246.9400 or connect@cmbteam.com.
