The Sun
Sunnyvale's Newspaper

Photograph by Robert Scheer

Wild Oats deli clerk Deann Brady hefts a couple of spanakopita, Greek pastry filled with spinach and feta cheese.

Eat your veggies--at Wild Oats Market

By Sarah Stanek

The deli counter at Wild Oats Community Market in Sunnyvale offers more than just takeout food. It also has a place to sit down and eat.

Wooden tables of all sizes line the storefront, looking out on the parking lot. Strangers share the large "community table" during their lunch hours to enjoy "Wild 'Wiches" and fruit smoothies.

"It's the most beautiful spot in the store, especially in the morning with the sun coming in. It just brightens the whole store," manager Dan Alexander said.

The food is beautiful, too, said Allen Seidner, the director of prepared foods for Wild Oats' Northern California stores.

"Our main idea is to have a healthy, colorful, fresh, continually evolving menu of beautiful foods," he said. "Our Sunnyvale store is excellent at that."

The sandwiches are overflowing with organic mixed greens and all-natural fresh meats, served on fresh bread from the store's bakery. The salad case contains everything from tabouleh to Chinese chicken salad.

Almost 75 percent of the salads are vegetarian, and many of those are vegan (no meat or dairy products), said deli manager Joán Vallion.

"I've adjusted the salads, asked people what they would like. They've had some really good suggestions," she added.

As a result of Vallion's research, "the case is always a little different" compared to other Wild Oats delis, Seidner said. "People always want more of every different, strange thing we're doing."

The deli also offers hot foods, such as roasted free-range chicken, steamed rice and corn on the cob. Some ready-to-cook food is available for takeout.

"A lot of people combine their lunch or dinner with their shopping trip," Alexander said. The most popular part of the store is actually the meat counter, he added.

All the meat at the counter and the deli comes from animals raised naturally, with no steroids or antibiotics. There are a few unusual cuts of meat as well, including ostrich and shark.

Marty Kay, the manager of the seafood and meat counters, is always willing to share cooking tips and recipes with curious customers.

Informational pamphlets about the store's stock as well as general health issues are available at the customer service counter.

Wild Oats takes the community market concept seriously. Much of the produce is from local certified organic farmers. One day a month, the store donates 5 percent of its profits to a local charity organization. This month the money will go to the Boy Scout Council.

"We really want the deli to be a community meeting place," Alexander said.

Wild Oats Market Deli, 1265 S. Mary Ave.. Store is open 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun.

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This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, July 16, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.