Sneak peek: International grocer Compare Foods is coming to South Boulevard

Compare Foods will open a new Charlotte store this month just past the intersection of Tyvola Road and South Boulevard.

The background: The locally-owned grocery store has been in Charlotte since 2005. Compare Foods carries all kinds of everyday grocery items, including an extensive selection of international goods.

• Community engagement is a big part of Compare Foods’ philosophy, and the grocer proudly supports local organizations like Classroom Central, Discovery Place and the Latin American Chamber of Commerce.

The new location is more than your average grocery store; it’s designed to be a community hub where shoppers can relax and enjoy good food.

Here’s how: The store will house two restaurants with sit-in areas, one serving Mexican and Central American cuisine and another specializing in Caribbean food. There will also be a coffee shop, a bakery and an ice cream shop.

Plus, plus, plus: The store is outfitted with unique design features that play into its international appeal, like tiles sourced from around the world and a mural painted by local artists Alex DeLarge and Lucy Phung.

• The concept for the murals is “dancing into Charlotte,” celebrating the city’s diverse community.

Here’s a behind-the-scenes look around the new store, which is wrapping up construction and set to open in late December.

• The address is 5601 South Blvd.

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Produced in partnership with Compare Foods.