New Sendik’s Opens With Two Stories, New Dining and Grand Celebration

Whitefish Bay’s long-awaited new Sendik’s Food Market will open at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, bringing a dramatically larger grocery store, new dining and shopping options, and a full opening celebration to the heart of the village.

The new two-story market is located at 500 E. Silver Spring Drive, next to the longtime neighborhood store that served generations of Whitefish Bay shoppers. The opening marks the completion of a major redevelopment that began in March and replaces the familiar but compact shopping experience with a much roomier destination.

Opening morning will have a distinctly local feel. The Whitefish Bay High School Band will participate in the morning opening ceremonies, helping welcome shoppers and celebrate one of the most anticipated business openings in the community.

For more happenings around the village, visit our Whitefish Bay news and family activities page.

When Does the New Whitefish Bay Sendik’s Open?

The doors are scheduled to open at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23.

The grand-opening celebration will include morning ceremonies and a ribbon cutting, with the WFBHS Band taking part. Milwaukee saxophonist Tobias Cainion is then scheduled to perform from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to the opening-week entertainment schedule.

Opening details

• Date: Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026

• Opening time: 7 a.m.

• Address: 500 E. Silver Spring Drive, Whitefish Bay

• Morning celebration: Opening ceremonies featuring the Whitefish Bay High School Band

• Live music: Tobias Cainion from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

What Shoppers Will Find Inside

The scale of the new market will be immediately noticeable. The first floor alone covers approximately 36,000 square feet, giving shoppers considerably more space than the old Whitefish Bay store.

According to a preview of the new Sendik’s published by TMJ4, shoppers will enter near an expansive produce department with a double mezzanine overhead. All traditional grocery shopping will take place on the first floor.

The first level will also include several additions designed to make the store more than a place to pick up groceries:

• A coffee bar

• A gift shop

• A market hall

• A burrito bar

• Made-to-order sandwiches

• Sushi and other prepared foods

The extra room should be especially welcome to longtime customers who remember how crowded the aisles and checkout area could become during the busiest shopping times.

A Restaurant and Boutique Upstairs

The second floor changes the nature of the Whitefish Bay store even further. It will feature a boutique along with a restaurant where visitors can sit down, enjoy a meal or coffee, meet friends, or take a break before or after shopping.

That combination moves the new Sendik’s closer to a neighborhood gathering place than a conventional grocery store. It also gives Silver Spring Drive another casual food-and-drink destination for families and local residents. Readers looking for more places to eat and explore can browse our broader food and drinks guide.

A New Look Outside, Too

The project includes an updated exterior and a redesigned parking lot. Most of the remaining outdoor construction is expected to be completed by the time the store opens Wednesday morning, although visitors should allow a little extra time while everyone becomes familiar with the new parking and traffic flow.

The opening arrives amid other changes being discussed for the Silver Spring Drive business district, but the new market will preserve one important tradition: Sendik’s will remain an anchor in downtown Whitefish Bay.

Live Music Continues Through Opening Weekend

The celebration will extend beyond Wednesday. Sendik’s is also planning live performances during its first weekend:

• Lakeside Strings: Saturday, Sept. 26, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Marcya Daneille Duo: Sunday, Sept. 27, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The weekend music gives families another reason to explore the new space after the initial opening-day rush. Families making a Saturday outing of it can also visit the nearby Whitefish Bay Farmers Market, which runs its full market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 325 E. Silver Spring Drive.

A New Chapter for a Longtime Whitefish Bay Tradition

Sendik’s has deep roots in Whitefish Bay, and the old neighborhood market inspired plenty of affection despite its tight aisles and limited space. The new building is designed to retain a connection to the surrounding neighborhood while offering a much larger and more modern experience.

For many residents, Wednesday morning will feel like more than the opening of a grocery store. With the WFBHS Band helping lead the celebration, live music, new places to eat and gather, and a two-story market ready to explore, it will be a major community moment on Silver Spring Drive.

Sendik’s Food Market – Whitefish Bay
500 E. Silver Spring Drive
Opening at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026