Kirkland residents have now had a month to enjoy the new flagship QFC store in Kirkland Urban. The outdoor seating at the Q20 pub, children playing in the splash pad, and access to the store’s new and unique fresh products have been welcome additions to summer in Kirkland.
The 50,000-square-foot grocery store was the first business to open in the Kirkland Urban mixed-use project and offers a highly curated shopping experience for the local community. With a variety of in-store dining options, an extensive grab-and-go selection, a large FitMarket health and wellness department, and an emphasis on local, natural and organic products, the store is perfect for the busy Kirkland family.
The FitMarket section of the new QFC store is an element that separates it from your typical grocery store. Offering fun and inspirational food, fitness items to supplement nutritional needs and everything else you may need to pamper yourself, it’s not uncommon to see customers leaving the store with a little more than what was on their original grocery list.
Speaking of impulse shopping, there is no shortage of fun and trendy housewares throughout the store. And for those headed down to Marina Park and looking for last-minute beach items, QFC has that covered, too. A stark contrast to the previous small-format store, the new superstore with countless products and modernized departments is exactly what the growing downtown core needed.
While the pharmacy at the Kirkland Urban QFC is updated and expanded from the previous store, the friendly customer service has remained exceptional. Already known as one of the friendliest pharmacy staffs in the company, the team at the new store has continued that tradition.
In addition to top of the top-notch customer service, the store pharmacists help customers focus on healthy lifestyle options, from monthly medications and immunizations to utilizing QFC’s OptUp app to help make navigating nutrition easier. Their approach focuses on the whole self, not simply providing medications.
Local residents who had been waiting anxiously for the Kirkland Urban prepared food hall have not been disappointed. Tutta Bella’s authentic Neapolitan wood-fired pizza, Sicilian cannolis, meatball and porchetta sandwiches, lasagna and the variety of salads are perfect for those looking to grab lunch on the go.
Even the sushi at Kirkland Urban is unique. Yummi Sushi, based in Texas, was selected by QFC to provide specialty sushi exclusively for this store. The company provides Japanese dishes daily with seasoned rice, crisp sliced vegetables and the freshest seafood available. There was even a Kirkland Roll designed specifically for this location.
On any given day, you will also find shoppers enjoying a beverage and cheese platter at Q20, QFC’s own public house that was designed to be a friendly and fun gathering spot, with both indoor and outdoor seating. The restaurant offers growler and crowler fills, a frosé machine and eight taps of local rotating handles.
For those who prefer to cook at home, each department in the store has been curated with products and services to help with your meal solutions. Whether you consider yourself a gourmet chef or a cooking novice, the Kirkland Urban QFC has everything you need to enhance your culinary skills or bring out your inner foodie.
The meat counter is stocked with quality products perfect for your end-of-summer grilling. The store carries local, grass-fed, all-natural Twin River Angus beef that is raised in farms throughout Washington and Oregon and has no hormones or antibiotics. QFC also offers a wide selection of pre-seasoned, marinated and stuffed meat items that require minimal prep and will make you a hero at your next dinner party. And you can always find the products QFC customers have grown to love, including Certified Angus beef, Simple Truth and local favorites such as Draper Valley chicken and Hempler’s bacon.
In seafood, you will find protein noodles in the fresh case. This new product is made from wild Alaskan pollock and is low in carbs, has 10 grams of protein in every serving, and can be served hot or cold with a variety of sauces. And the Simple Truth Sauté seafood program provides natural, enrobed meal solutions that go from skillet to plate in under 12 minutes.
If you haven't visited Kirkland Urban QFC yet, be sure to do so soon. If you feel overwhelmed by the vast selection, more than 160 friendly, knowledgeable employees can answer any questions you may have. You can even provide anonymous feedback by calling 425.QFC.TALK or texting QFC to 23456.
After several years of planning and preparation, the premiere food store of the Pacific Northwest is fitting in with the downtown Kirkland community quite nicely.