WILMINGTON — Farmin’ on Front recently celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony that included Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo, council member Kevin O’Grady and friends and family. The event occurred at the business’s newly-renovated building at 143 N. Front Street and was hosted by Wilmington Downtown Incorporated (WDI).
Farmin’ On Front is a unique concept store that has transformed 6,000 square feet of retail space into a true southern foods shopping experience in historic downtown Wilmington. The store offers a plethora of offerings including farm fresh produce, meats, seafood, house baked goods, gelato, prepared deli items, and so much more.
The store makes shopping fun by providing unique interactive one-of-a-kind displays such as a clip your own herb garden wall, a beer barn with a growler fill-up station and a re-purposed refrigerator for customers to pour their own glass bottle milk.
Farmin’ on Front is family owned and operated and was co-founded by Benjamin Long. A genuine leader in the “farm to table” movement, the company operates its own farm, Prospect Farms, in Supply, N.C. where they grow a number of fruits and vegetables throughout the year. Farmin’ also has been operating a successful wholesale distribution company, Farmin’ Exchange, for a number of years that supplies over one-hundred-and-fifty area restaurants with “the best of what’s local.” Farmin’ on Front is an extension of their passion and commitment to provide high quality, locally-sourced food for area residents.
“We really wanted to create a space that reflected our company vision and values in addition to supporting the entire community,” said Benjamin Long. “The outcome exceeded our expectations and we are so excited and humbled to be in this space,” he said.
The market is set in a renovated storefront across the street from the main Downtown Post Office. Owner Ben Long and the team visited markets throughout the region to find design elements and other inspirational ideas to craft a warm and welcoming environment. Visitors entering the store are greeted by a display of floral arrangements next to a wood trimmed seating area with interior sightlines into the store and panoramic views to the bustling sidewalk.
A colorful array of gelatos and baked goods is in the center aisle with a robust produce section featuring fruits and vegetables such as beans, carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, bananas, collards, mushrooms, onions and many other options.
Moving toward the back of the store, a coffee station is next to a display with fresh baked breads, bagels and rolls. That is followed by a butcher section that also includes fresh seafood. A “grab and go” section that includes fresh made sandwiches, soups and salads is next, followed by a wine section and herb garden wall. Refrigerated cases on the south side of the store have milk, yogurt, desserts and other dairy products.
“Farmin’ on Front is the culmination of a long held dream by many Downtown residents and workers for a convenient market to serve the neighborhood’s needs,” said WDI President Ed Wolverton. “The market is a fantastic addition to Downtown and will meet the needs of our growing residential market,” he said.
About Farmin’ On Front
Farmin’ On Front is a one-of-a-kind urban food market within the Farmin’ Brands network. The store will also serve as a catalyst between local food producers and local consumers.
About Wilmington Downtown Incorporated
WDI’s mission is to promote the economic growth and development of Downtown Wilmington.
-Content provided by Wilmington Downtown Inc. (WDI)
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