Welcome Whole Foods: Monday Night VIP Reception

It's here! Well, almost.

was the place to be seen Monday evening for about 150 business people, city officials and other VIPs.

Laguna Niguel Patch was among those invited to the new store at 23932 Aliso Creek Road in the Aliso Creek Village center, to celebrate before the market officially opens Wednesday at 9 a.m.

In between the fresh produce, bottles of wine, an array of refrigerated beer and a DJ, party-goers enjoyed food samples. There was Chinese orange-flavored chicken, string beans with tofu, butter lettuce wraps filled with other crunchy veggies and topped with a Ranch dressing sauce. Other food stations around the store were dressed with wine, mounds of cheese, crackers, specialty deli meats and, of course, a decadent dessert table with brownies and macaroons.

It is hard to believe that this is the same store that was once Tall Mouse crafts that closed its doors in the summer 2010. It was that Whole Foods had signed the lease at in the Aliso Creek Village center. 

said he was excited about the new store, and that his wife was even more excited. 

 was also on hand enjoying the food samples along with Patricia Bates, Orange County Fifth District Supervisor, who is also a Laguna Niguel resident. Councilman Gary Capata was enjoying the party, too, along with Dan Abrams, of  and Mark Snider, president of the

Resident, businessman and immmediate past president of Rotary Club of Laguna Niguel,  was also on hand, as well as Debbie Newman, president of the 

 admitted he was tired but looking forward to Wednesday.

"It's pretty much ready to go other than for a few tweaks here and there," he said. "We all very happy and excited."

And so is just about everyone else in Laguna Niguel.