This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A huge crowd crammed the parking lot at downtown Salt Lake City's new Sunflower Market Wednesday morning as shoppers vied to be among the first 200 in the store and be awarded a reusable shopping bag full of groceries worth $50.
Cars also filled neighboring retailers' lots and lined both sides of 200 South from 600 East to 700 East, prompting some would-be shoppers to give up before trying to enter the store.
The new market in the space previously occupied by Big Lots at 656 E. 200 South officially opened at 7 a.m. after a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 6:45 a.m.
Based in Colorado, Sunflower operates two other stores in Utah, at 6284 S. State Street in Murray and 1375 S. State St. in Orem.
Store hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, but closed on Sundays in Orem.
Sunflower Market's Salt Lake City opening came just two days after Whole Foods Market opened a new store at 544 S. 700 East in Trolley Square to a similarly large grand opening crowd. Whole Foods Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. will hold a vendors' fair where residents can meet Utah food producers and sample their products.
The fiercely competitive retailers cater to consumers seeking organic produce and natural foods.
— Julie DeHerrera