Fresh Thyme Farmers Market, which had been on an expansion tear since its founding in 2012, plans to open 10 new stores in 2018, down from the 20 new stores the fresh-focused chain opened in 2017, according to local reports.
The new stores in 2018 will include at least two locations in Pennsylvania — one in the Pittsburgh suburb of Bridgeville and another in Pleasant Hill, about 90 miles west of Philadelphia, according to the chain’s website. The stores would mark Fresh Thyme’s first outlets in that state, where Sprouts Farmers Market is also expanding.
Pennsylvania will be the 11th state of operation for Fresh Thyme and will mark its easternmost outposts. Most of its stores are located in the Midwest.
In addition to the two Pennsylvania stores, Fresh Thyme also has locations planned for Evansville, Ind. (opening Jan. 18); Ames, Iowa (opening Jan. 31); Grand Island, Neb. (opening Feb. 21); Muncie, Ind.; St Peters, Mo.; and Prospect Park, Minn.
The 10 new stores reportedly planned for 2018 represent a slight slowdown for Fresh Thyme, which has grown to 66 locations since it was founded five years ago. The company previously said it had planned to open 100 stores by about 2020.