Earlier this evening, the new Metro Market, 4075 N. Oakland Ave. in Shorewood, hosted a sneak peek and ribbon cutting celebration with copious samples for the few hundred people in attendance – many of whom were visibly "wow-ed."

The 90,000-square foot, environmentally friendly structure is sleek, spacious and thoughtfully laid out on two connected floors. 

The new structure also features a multi-level parking garage which simplifies navigating shopping carts to vehicles.

The ground floor offers fresh food and upscale grab-and-go items, including a Starbucks coffee shop, bakery, gelato counter, meat department, 12-tap beer bar, rolled-to-order sushi station, oyster bar, BBQ walk-up, blend-your-own trail mix and more.

The second floor features a large liquor department, pharmacy, traditional grocery aisles and frozen food section.

Throughout the store, there is an emphasis on organic, vegan and gluten-free foods.

Three months ago, Wisconsin Roundy’s became a subsidiary of the Kroger Co. The new Metro Market development is based on Mariano's Fresh Market in Chicago, offering the possibility of a leisurely shopping experience rather than a perfunctory task.

For those of us who remember the former Pick ’n Save or the crescent-roofed Kohl’s before that, it’s an unbelievably spacious, modern and abundant offering.

The Shorewood Metro Market opens to the public Tuesday, Feb. 16. 

Here are 11 more photos of the new space: 

1. Beer and wine

2. Sushi

3. Caramel apples

4. Flowers

5. Oysters

6. Produce

7. Starbucks

8. Meat

9. Gelato

10. Liquor

11. Trees?!