Tampa to get new Sprouts grocery store

Sprouts Farmers Market says it will open its newest store in Tampa on Friday, Sept. 15, at 2150 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa.

A ribbon-cutting will take place at 6:45 a.m. Friday, Sept. 15, with doors opening at 7 a.m.

"We are thrilled that Sprouts is planting another seed in the city of Tampa, expanding its business to offer fresh, quality food to more of our residents while creating hundreds of jobs that will positively impact our local economy," says Tampa Mayor Jane Castor in a Thursday statement. "I look forward to watching this market bloom!"

The market says from Friday, Sept. 15, through Sunday, Sept. 17, a variety of activities will celebrate the grand opening.

A "pop-up party" will give guests the chance to taste seasonal produce from "fruit school," play games, have their face painted, watch artists carve large produce, participate in a special "guess the weight" contest of an oversized piece of produce, and more.

The first 200 shoppers on Friday, Sept. 15, and Saturday, Sept. 16, will receive a free "Goodness it's Free" reusable bag filled with special products and samples.

Also on Friday, Sept. 15, the first 400 customers will receive a free long-stem rose courtesy of Falcon Farms Flora. At 11 a.m., shoppers will be treated to a free hotdog lunch from Dietz and Watson, while supplies last.

Starting at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15, Danny Seo, editor-in-chief of Naturally, Danny Seo magazine, will give out free signed copies of his hard-cover cook book, "Naturally, Delicious Dinners thanks to Simply Organic."

In anticipation of the opening, shoppers will have the chance to win a $500 Sprouts gift card up until midnight on Sept. 17, when they sign up via the website.

Sprouts Farmers Market works with local farmers like J&C Tropicals, Wish Farms, Santa Sweets and others to source produce. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Sprouts is a large specialty retailer of fresh, natural and organic food. Sprouts employs approximately 31,000 team members and operates nearly 400 stores in 23 states nationwide.   

Through Sprouts' "Food Rescue" program, the new store will donate groceries that are no longer fit for sale but remain perfectly edible and nutrient rich to Feeding Tampa Bay, a local food bank that provides food to families and individuals at risk of hunger.

The new location will be open daily from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m.