The former Sunrise Home Center in Jackson was reimagined as Jackson Whole Grocer by keeping the onetime home and hardware store’s structure intact while transforming the space into the modern store and community-centric hub that shoppers experience today.
(Jackson Hole, Wyo.) – As an RRR Business Leader, Jackson Whole Grocer joins many businesses in the community that strive to create a more sustainable Jackson Hole. Every day the store focuses on upholding the three R’s — reduce, reuse, and recycle. The store’s efforts with waste reduction, energy conservation, and green building are a few ways the grocer helps protect the environment.
A five-member “Green Team” which includes store owner Jeff Rice and employees across several departments makes it easier for all workers to uphold one of the store’s guiding principles: stewarding a healthy planet. Helping to reduce landfill-bound waste, well-marked bins and easy access to recycling containers make recycling a natural process, rather than a chore, for employees and customers alike.
In an effort to reduce paper waste overall, the store uses jet towel dryers in the public restrooms and incentivizes using reusable grocery bags. Contributing to the effort to eliminate food waste and food insecurity in the community, Jackson Whole Grocer donated 63,785 pounds of unsellable, yet edible, food products to Hole Food Rescue this past year.
In a forward thinking initiative, Jackson Whole Grocer teamed up with Tesla Motors to provide a sustainable amenity to their customers and traveling public. Hosting eight Supercharging stations on-site, the store now provides the newest, clean energy available furthering the store’s commitment to the environment.
Their eco-friendly facility, built in 2014, utilized an existing structure with improvements earning them the top prize in Progressive Grocer’s Best Store Conversion category. The former Sunrise Home Center in Jackson was reimagined as Jackson Whole Grocer by keeping the onetime home and hardware store’s structure intact while transforming the space into the modern store and community-centric hub that shoppers experience today. Boasting reclaimed wood, 95 percent LED lights, and environmentally friendly GreenChill-certified refrigeration systems, the award-winning facility conserves natural resources.
The building’s siding is comprised of recycled resin via a skateboard half-pipe manufacturing company. Furniture in the café area comes from reclaimed wood from de-construction. Decor elements are comprised of recycled snow fencing and the building, utilizing LED lighting, has low or no VOC paint.
Whenever possible Jackson Whole Grocer sources its products from local and regional suppliers which requires less fossil fuel to transport and keeps local money in the community while supporting local growers.
With these initiatives and more, Jackson Whole Grocer strives to create a better tomorrow.
Jackson Whole Grocer invites the community to celebrate Earth Day at their store this Saturday, April 22, with a $5 pancake breakfast to benefit Friends of Pathways from 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Friends of Pathways is the community advocate for a complete pathways system, partnering with government agencies for construction support and ongoing education and encouragement programs. Over 49 miles of pathways have been completed in Teton County with an additional 14 miles in Grand Teton National Park.
