Rumblings Update: Whole Foods, S'il Vous Plait

Friday, January 13, 2006, by Lockhart

If there's one dividing line separating New York City neighborhoods in early 2006, it's Whole Foods envy. Yesterday's Rumblings & Bumblings revelation that the Upper East Side might be joining the Whole Foods party sparked a flurry of reader emails and comments. Among them:

1) Upper East Side: "Can't say for sure that there will be a Whole Foods there [at Third Ave and 86th Street], but there's a half block of walk-ups that haven't had tenants for a year and all the storefronts on the ground floor have been bumped out in the past few months. 86th St Photo moved to where the Athlete's foot used to be, Haagen Daaz shuttered up (*sniff*) and the new rip-you-off Russian cell phone stores who spent a fortune on neon just a year ago have also closed. Clearly the entire row is going to be razed and a uber-condo will rise in its place. Perhaps a Whole Foods will occupy the new first floor. They better sell Haagen Daaz." More location speculation in the comments.
2) Lower East Side: "Does ANYONE have ANY idea when that Whole Foods in Avalon Chrystie is EVER going to open??? Or are they just taunting us and then shipping it all down to Tribeca?" Adds another correspondent, "Have you any word about when the Whole Foods will be opening on the LES? I can only take so much more of Key Foods vegetable selection."

Our attempts to find out an opening date for the Avalon Chrystie Whole Foods—originally pegged as this spring—have yielded paltry results. No question that progress has slowed; the photo above, taken last February, could have been taken this morning. Anyone know more?
· Rumbings and Bumblings Responses: Whole Foods for UES? [Curbed]
· Branding the Bowery: Whole Foods Edition [Curbed]
· Whole Foods New Stores: New York [WholeFoods.com]

Filed under Manhattan: Lower East Side, Manhattan: Upper East Side, Retail, Rumblings and Bumblings, Village Voice,

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Comments (18 extant)

The shopper in my family understands that Whole Foods Avalon Chrystie is now slated for October opening.

By drewo at January 13, 2006 2:31 PM

I hear the Whole Foods on the LES is now holding out for a TV deal from the WB. WF wants WB to pay their rent, too.

By Mr. Minerva at January 13, 2006 2:55 PM

Whenever I ask the folk at the Union Square WF, they are incredibly vague about furnishing any info regarding the LES WF.
Now, that they've established a solid customer base at the Union Square locale, it appears that they are increasing their prices as well. They must think that
" money grows on organic trees".

By Rockette at January 13, 2006 3:08 PM

While it's a pain in the ass to schlep from Key Foods or order everything from FreshDirect, as a tenant of ACP who'll be renewing in August, I kind of hope it's not open, since its opening will be used as an excuse to jack rents.

By Matt at January 13, 2006 3:46 PM

By Matt at January 13, 2006 3:48 PM

And what happened to the Whole Foods that was announced for 3rd Avenue (I think that's the street) in Brooklyn?

By Andrew J. Lederer at January 13, 2006 7:01 PM

A Trader Joe's would be much better.

By Toby at January 13, 2006 8:18 PM

Me too on the "please give us a Trader Joe's" sentiment. They can build one in Brooklyn, too. :)

By Megan at January 13, 2006 9:55 PM

the problem with the whole foods store list link is that they miss their own store in white plains

By john at January 13, 2006 10:03 PM

10.

the problem with the whole foods store list link is that they miss their own store in white plains

By Anonymous at January 13, 2006 10:03 PM

11.

Being that I work at Whole Foods USQ, I'll tell you that teh Bowery/Houston Whole Foods is slated for a March opening.

By J at January 13, 2006 11:29 PM

12.

A Trader Joe's would be much better.
By Toby
+++++++

Isn't there s Trader Joe's coming to East 14th St.? (And there's no better or worse here - they are different kinds of stores. We need both.)

By Andrew J. Lederer at January 14, 2006 11:27 AM

13.

Being that I work at Whole Foods USQ, I'll tell you that teh Bowery/Houston Whole Foods is slated for a March opening.
By J
++++

Then it's as planned.

The greeter (originally the great and famous cashier line guy from Chelsea) told me that on Union Square's opening day (at which time the Houston location already had the Whole Foods signage it has now).

By Andrew J. Lederer at January 14, 2006 11:30 AM

14.

I'll take any wager that the WF LES will not open by March. It's an open cement space with no movement. You can have 13/12 odds.

By Adam at January 16, 2006 6:25 PM

15.

TRADER JOES! TRADER JOES! TRADER JOES!

(and yeah, they are better--those of us w/o $M bonuses can afford to shop there)

By Anonymous at January 30, 2006 2:55 PM

16.

TRADER JOES! TRADER JOES! TRADER JOES!

(and yeah, they are better--those of us w/o $M bonuses can afford to shop there)

By Anonymous at January 30, 2006 2:56 PM

17.

I was told today by someone in the Union Square store that the LES store opening is about a year away.

By Anonymous at February 24, 2006 3:00 PM

18.

I was told by someone who works in the building that they heard
the LES Whole Foods store would open sometime in 2007. Maybe
they are waiting for the new monster building across the street to
be finished.....

By Anonymous at March 6, 2006 3:57 PM