Get ready for the big bacon cutting ceremony and bag hot deals on produce and meats Wednesday when Lucky’s Market opens in Oakland Park.
The store at 1033 E. Oakland Park Blvd. will be the affordable organic grocery chain’s third South Florida location. Other stores are in Coral Springs and Plantation.
The 10 a.m. grand opening ceremony includes cutting of a 10-pound slab of bacon with a ninja knife, samples galore and live music. Lucky’s also will donate more than $10,000 to the nonprofit The Humanity Project anti-bullying program, PACE Center for Girls and the Broward Partnership for the Homeless.
Hot deals include 98 cent watermelons, Florida avocados, hatch chilies, yellow peaches, asparagus, $1.99 per pound ground beef, $2.99 homemade Italian sausage. Also bag exotic dragon fruit for two for $5 and rambutan for two for $3.
Lucky’s offers coupons and customers can sign up for Lucky’s Rewards, which offers $5 off coupons for each 100 points earned. One dollar spend equals one point. It’s free to join.
“Customers can expect to sample a lot of our specialty foods such as the in-house smoked bacon, smoked turkey breast and juices,” says store director Jason Rief. “There will also be live demos,” says Rief, of Coconut Creek. “We are going to have great deals on produce and sales in the meat department and deli. And of course wine samplings.”
The Colorado-based grocer encourages customers to “sip and stroll” with beer or wine sold in the cafe (grocery carts have cup holders!) while jamming to live music. The hip concept is a cross between a brewery, a farmer’s market and the winning ideas behind several popular grocery chains all packed into one 30,000-square-foot store.
The chain even streams Lucky’s Market Radio, which the company says is “the musical equivalent of a fresh cup of coffee with an extra shot of espresso added for kicks.” James Brown’s “Make it Funky,” is part of the grooving mix.
“Lucky’s offers a different experience for customers. It’s more about eating and drinking than a shopping,” Rief says. “Stop and grab a $2 pint or $3 glass of wine and make the grocery-shopping chore a fun experience. Lucky’s is centered around flavors, quality and great prices.”
The chain joins Oakland Park’s thriving culinary arts district on Dixie Highway north of Oakland Park Boulevard, which includes the Funky Buddha Brewery. The brewhouse specialties just happen to be on tap in Lucky’s cafe. Cold-pressed nitro brew coffee is for sale, too.
Lucky’s smokes its own meats and makes fresh sausages. There’s a pizzeria, fresh juice, ramen and sushi bars, and a large chef’s case filled with prepared foods. That should make for affordable meals to grab and go on busy weeknights.
Since it’s hatch chili season, many recipes feature the smokey-not-hot pepper, Rief says. Items to try include the homemade Hatch Chili Chicken Salad and Hatch Chili Smoked Chicken Sausage.
Customers can ask to try anything in the deli case or on the extensive prepared food bars, Rief says. Be on the lookout for “Lucky Finds,” which are some of the store’s best sellers offered at special savings. The smoked turkey breast will be $6.99 a pound, a $3 savings. French baguette are 99 cents, cored pineapple $2.99 and Parigiano Reggiano is $14.99 a pound. Two slices of pizza and a pint is $5.
Markets also source ingredients from local vendors in a 400 mile radius.
The apothecary is reminiscent of Whole Foods, selling teas, salves, tinctures and healing elixirs, aromatherapy oils, candles, soaps and other organic personal care items.
If you don’t make it to Wednesday’s grand opening, stop by the Taste of Lucky’s event from 11 to 3 p.m. on Sept. 2. There will be live music, food samples and gift-basket giveaways.
“We’re excited for residents to shop at a great grocery store with great prices,” Rief says. “It’s been eight months in the making.”
Connect with me: “Like” Doreen’s Deals on Facebook; follow Doreen Christensen on Twitter, Facebook and GooglePlus; sign up for my Freebie Friday Newsletter.
RELATED STORIES:
Photos: Peek inside the new Lucky’s Market
Photos: Open for business: South Florida retail and restaurant openings in August
Pictures: 62 U.S. supermarkets ranked from worst to first
Funky goes national: Oakland Park brewery sold, but taproom vibe to stay the same
