Fort Lauderdale, FL—With the competitiveness of today’s business industry, store owners could consider themselves successful to own a bustling brick-and-mortar store. A second store? That would be even better. But, what if that small business owner has the opportunity to open his third store in a third town?

Some would not only consider Taylor Hamilton successful, but an innovative retail leader as well. Hamilton is the owner of two Tunie’s Natural Grocery & Vitamin Markets located in Palm Beach Gardens, Fl. and Coral Springs, Fl. and the third store is set to open in Fort Lauderdale, Fl. on July 25.

“It’s incredibly gratifying to be part of an organization that’s doing so much to better the community that I grew up in,” says Hamilton, who has owned the company for five years. “We’re thrilled to be able to bring an affordable option to more South Florida residents and to further educate people on the importance of clean eating and living a healthier lifestyle as well as to be able to support sustainability and wellness in our community.”

The new store in Fort Lauderdale will be the largest store out of the three at approximately 20,000 square feet and employ roughly 50 staff members, whereas the other two stores are only 15,000 square feet and have almost 80 employees combined. The store will contain an organic juice bar and a full commercial kitchen where grab-and-go prepared foods will be made and sold.

Tunie’s is more than just offering shoppers healthy and affordable groceries. Additionally, the stores each provide weekly health and wellness seminars as well as nutritional counseling year round without charging a fee to customers.

The seminars include topics such as: Free Bone Density Scans, Smoothie Workshops, Metabolism, Blood Sugar, Pet Health, Celiac Awareness, and Weight Management, according to Gail Silverman, the director of marketing for Tunie’s. For more information on the events, shoppers can visit www.tunies.com/events.

When it comes to additional expansion plans, the company is “definitely interested in continuing to expand and looking at other locations in the South Florida area, but right now (their) focus is on getting the Ft. Lauderdale location open and available for customers,” says Silverman.

The new store will be located at 900 N. Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale, Fl. For more information about the new store or the company, customers can visit www.tunies.com. WF

Published in WholeFoods Magazine Online, September 2015 (online 7/6/2015).