Vegan Arepa Restaurant Opens Inside Whole Foods Market in Denver

Vegan restaurant concept Arepa Fresca by EatGÜD recently opened inside Whole Foods Market in Denver, CO. The Venezuelan-fusion eatery features menu items such as Salvajo Arepa with carnitas-style chipotle jackfruit, black beans, pickled vegetables, and avocado on a handmade cornmeal cake; Yucca Fries tossed with smoky spices and served with chipotle dipping sauce; and fresh mango agua fresca. The restaurant is part of Whole Foods’ Friends of Whole Foods Market program, which partners with innovative businesses and entrepreneurs to establish their own independent retail spaces inside Whole Foods locations. “We took a risk when we opened up our Colorado facility to produce preservative-free, scratch-made vegan food for Whole Foods Markets’ grab-and-go section in the Rocky Mountain Region,” EatGÜD owner David Medak told VegNews. “This venue is an example of Whole Foods Market taking a risk on us in providing a great location inside one of their flagship stores. We’re a prime example of how their focus on local companies yields dividends for both parties—a true win-win partnership.” Last year, Whole Foods partnered with EatGÜD to offer new products such as a vegan breakfast sandwich featuring GÜD’s chickpea-based vegan egg patty. Medak plans to continue to expand EatGÜD fresh and frozen packaged foods as well as the Arepa Fresca restaurant concept. “It’s genuinely thrilling to see the demand for plant-based food continuing to explode,” Medak said, “and I’m excited to say Arepa Fresca venues will be a big part of that trend nationwide.”