

Whole Foods Market (Manhattan West)
sector: Food
district: Hudson Yards development
450 West 33rd Street, NY 10001
In a nutshell
This 2-floor store blends local sourcing, full service, Amazon integration and innovative payments in the burgeoning Hudson Yards area. Best place to see Amazon One (pay with your palm) in NYC.
In their words
"The world's leader in natural and organic foods - with 500+ stores in the US and UK" - "We seek out the finest natural and organic foods available, maintain the strictest quality standards in the industry, and have an unshakeable commitment to sustainable agriculture. Add to that the excitement and fun we bring to shopping for groceries, and you start to get a sense of what we’re all about"
Visit Field notes
This new store integrates with the Manhattan West development which link roof-level and mezzanine shopping and leisure from Penn Station and Amtrak to Hudson Yards.
The store offers full Amazon integration (lockers, collection, Prime benefits), as well as an emphasis upon local suppliers (the cafe is run by a Brooklyn small(er) business, the meat and produce stress their local provenance). The range and quality you'd expect are on full display, and payment is mainly self-service (with the Amazon Prime app) and also the new contactless palm-reading payment (branded "Amazon One").
Other Reading
Review of Amazon One payment: https://gizmodo.com/whole-foods-palm-contactless-payment-amazon-1849395184
Comparison of palm-payment with other options: https://www.zdnet.com/article/amazon-expands-pay-with-your-palm-tech/
Local news report (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL48Gq2l_NY
LAST VISITED
19/11/2024
Added
2022
COMPARE WITH
A three-floor, 23,000 square foot experience with a Reserve on the ground floor, their first Restaurant on the first floor, and a bar-cum-training-cum-experience area in the basement.
A hip-homage streetwear brand from the former brand director at Supreme, Angelo Baque.
Surprisingly warm and accessible experience store from Dyson that offers generous space behind the dark facade, a characterful building and the full suite of Dyson demos, interaction and customisation
The flagship is an homage to Brooklyn, with stainless steel, oak and brick. The monolithic kiln-like brick centrepiece dominates the apparel+sneakers+treats destination.
Similar shops
A 'clubhouse' store for the high-end cycling brand, offering a full range of cycling products alongside a cafe and an active cycling club.
A reimagining of a toy store: child-centred, but adult-savvy. Combines the theatre of a 'secret behind the scenes' area and incredible staff, and a buzz like an affluent Soft Play afternoon.
Google's brand/experience offering that makes the Apple Store seem staid and 'last year'.
A permanent pop-up of food pop-ups. Brands get a 'residency' in the store to be promoted, get metrics and traction. It's a curated, discovery store.
"Elevated" is the watchword - for the design, services and experience in this physical embodiment of "democratic, approachable and inclusive luxury" with 'safari and travel' roots.
This 2-floor store blends local sourcing, full service, Amazon integration and innovative payments in the burgeoning Hudson Yards area. Best place to see Amazon One (pay with your palm) in NYC.