The basics:

• Whole Foods to open July 29 at Monmouth Square in Eatontown
• 40,000-sf store features Jersey Shore-inspired design
• Will offer 1,000+ locally sourced products and NJ brands
• Anchors Monmouth Square redevelopment at former Monmouth Mall site

A brand-new Whole Foods Market inspired by the Jersey Shore is coming to Monmouth County.

The upscale Amazon-owned grocery chain’s 40,000-square-foot outpost at Monmouth Square in Eatontown plans a July 29 grand opening.

Festivities will kick off at 8 a.m. According to Whole Foods, the first 300 customers will receive a limited-edition Eatontown tote bag and coupon featuring savings of up to $100 off.

The soon-to-open outpost will carry more than 1,000 locally sourced items from Northeast producers. Inventory will include several New Jersey-based brands, such as Undercover Snacks quinoa crisps, Paper Plane Coffee Co. packaged coffee, Mushroom King Farm mushrooms and Hoboken Farms pasta sauce.

In addition to an array of certified organic, conventional and Sourced for Good produce and floral items, Whole Foods will have a curated grocery section filled with exclusive brand favorites and products from local suppliers.

There will be a seafood counter providing fresh, ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat options, as well as a variety of packaged smoked items. All offerings are either sustainable wild-caught or responsibly farmed, according to Whole Foods.

The full-service meat counter will have animal-welfare certified selections and be staffed by expert butchers who can cut steaks and poultry to order.

It will also contain:

• A cheese counter staffed by trained cheesemongers who can provide recommendations and create custom boards
• A prepared foods department featuring hot food and salad bars with rotating menus of comfort food, seasonal options, fresh pizza, sandwiches and sushi rolled daily
• A bakery section with fresh bread, cake, cookies, pastries and a wide variety of special diet items
• A wellness & beauty area stocked with a range of body care, beauty, lifestyle and supplement products

According to Whole Foods, the store’s design draws inspiration from the nearby Jersey Shore. Its soft pastel color palette, natural wood accents, neutral tones and other coastal touches are meant to evoke the look and feel of a sunny day at the beach.

Monmouth County’s 4th Whole Foods

In Eatontown, Whole Foods will be the first to open at the former site of Monmouth Mall. The property is currently being redeveloped by Kushner Cos. into an open-air, mixed-use town center with retail, dining and luxury apartments.

As the anchor of Monmouth Square, Whole Foods is taking space left vacant after Barnes & Noble relocated next to Macy’s.

Besides Macy’s and Barnes & Noble, AMC Theatres and Boscov’s have also remained open since construction kicked off in May 2024. Other tenants coming soon include Felice, Cava, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, Offshore Coffee and Strong Pilates.

Eatontown marks Whole Foods’ 26th location in New Jersey. Within Monmouth County, the grocer already has stores in Marlboro, Red Bank and Wall Township.

Following its grand opening, Whole Foods will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

To celebrate its newest store, Whole Foods will provide a refrigerated van and food donation to local food rescue organization NJ Rise. The chain will also make a monetary contribution to the group.