For some as yet inexplicable reason, the World Wide Web was all abuzz today with 140-character news blips of a Whole Foods Market taking up residence in South Burlington. Often Internet rumors pan out to be nothing more than idle speculation by people who sit around in their underwear blogging, tweeting, chirping or spurting about whatever strikes their fancy. But, unlike online rumors about Miley Cyrus being pregnant or Sarah Palin’s teen-mom daughter actually being the mother of the infant Trig, this rumor about Whole Foods is indeed legit. Know how I know? Because I verified it myself.
This article appears in Jul 8-14, 2009.
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Well, I’d much rather have a Wegman’s or Trader Joes, but a Whole Foods Market is welcome. City Market is tough for me to get to–and park at. Healthy Living…not had much luck with their prepared food (I’ve found red hair in sandwiches more than once).
It sounds like a legit rumor, despite the contradiction in terms. I think Thibeault or his dad built my neighborhood. I wonder if “building relationships with local farmers, growers and artisans” is PR speak for “totally destroying local farmers, growers, and Artisans.” You never know. I don’t know anything about whole foods. Good work, though. Mildly interesting.
Not that the way a company treats its employees ever stopped “progressive/hippy” Vermonters’ shopping habits. Y’all may wanna check out this recent Counterpunch article:http://www.counterpunch.org/sharon05082009.html
I just moved from Boulder and watched Whole Foods eat through all the competition. It’s the only choice now and I have to say, I don’t like it. Too expensive. Too pompous. Not good produce. Few ethics, and such a corporate, static, and sterile environment. I like the ravines and creeks better. Don’t think we really need another grocery. We have plenty of options (much more affordable options) here. I was just visiting Colorado and commenting on how great Vermont is that we don’t have a Whole Foods store. Alas. . .
Whole Foods is no more expensive than City Markup or Wealthy Living.
Well, K, they must’ve changed a lot. I loved the one I used to shop in out in Northern California–of course that was 5 years ago…
Too bad it’s planning on a location so close to Healthy Living; they can’t find a place that would be a little farther away? How about the bombshell next to KMart? I suppose Hannaford’s wouldn’t approve of that spot.
Whole Foods: no thank you. I feel like we have enough “natural” stores, and if we needed another I’d prefer a local, smaller shop, not something so big as Whole Foods.Agree, would rather a Trader Joes which is a totally different kind of store.Or even a Target with LnT gone (I don’t shop at Wal-Mart, so BB&B is it).
Target would be awesome! I don’t shop at Walmart either and travel to NY when I can to visit Target. I love Trader Joe’s too.
Just returned from Waltham MA and made the regular trip to Trader Joes in Burlington MA to "stock up". Was even commenting to the cashier how well a Trader Joes would do in Burlington (VT)….. they are a unique and great store.
I'd be happy with a Target too!!!
Don’t think we need a Whole Foods market here, but I would deinitely vote for Trader Joe’s, Target, and my other favorite – IKEA !
I can’t stand Whole Foods. We’ve gone there when we’ve visited relatives in DC. If you think Healthy Living is overpriced it’s cheap compared to Whole Paycheck. I would hate to see them damage the local stores we have.I’d love to see a Target, Trade Joe’s or Wegmans. With Trader Joe’s being my #1 choice.
Bring them on. Healthy Living is way too expensive for the quality and choice they provide. I believe Whole Foods is savvy enough to know they have to work with the community and local farmers.City Market and Sweet Clover will do fine. Natural Provisions will tank as it looks like they are struggling now.I would love a Trader Joe’s too!
We don’t need another “healthy” food store. I agree it probably wouldn’t hurt City Market too much, but it may hurt Healthy Living as it would be close by. Maybe Healthy Living needs some competition though, to make them lower their ridiculous prices. Overall, I don’t think we need to be tearing up more undeveloped space(even if it is owned by Windjammer) and using more resources than we need to.
Got to say every time I visit MA, I try to stop at Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s to stock up. I find here that to shop sometimes I have to go to at least 2 if not 3 markets, some at City, some at HLiving and some at Hannafords. And I try to buy my natural non-food products at N.Provisions-they’re cheaper there. This is not environmentally friendly at all to say the least, and really not much fun. I did a CSA last year and really loved not shopping at all-that’s the real way to beat the system, and drugstore.com. City Market and Healthy Living are just as expensive as WF if not more.
As much as I love the store and shop there on a semi-regular basis, Wealthy Living could definitely use the competition.
Not sure we need another STORE.
Interesting to see people want a Trader Joe’s here.A few years ago I visited the TJ’s in my brother’s Morris County, NJ town and told the manager there that Trader Joe’s would be foolish not to consider Burlington in its expansion plans. Whenever my travels around the country take me near one, I stock up. I have friends who do all their shopping there! Everything is easy to find (unlike the labyrinth chaos at Wealthy Living and City Market).Jeepers, I hope it’s just a rumor about Whole Foods. (I avoided them when I lived in Houston.) If you think Wealthy Living is pretentious, you ain’t seen nuffin til you’ve seen Whole Foods! Can’t you just already imagine the self-serving ads on elitist VPR?
What other stores/retailers would you like to see in the area–perhaps in the shopping centre that Whole Foods would anchor? I’d love a Panera sandwhich place. An Apple store would be nice, too.
I welcome competition, if Whole Foods is bad I won’t shop there, if it is good then I will, but in the end competition should increase the quality of the other stores. Also @ Sir Winston Thriller, I wouldn’t mind an Apple store either.
Why would you want a health food store that just sold apples? I don’t get it…
I would LOVE to see Whole Foods in this market! Healthy Living is absurdly pricey, but what’s worse is that you can’t find your way around or out of the place. I’ve been in wilderness areas that were easier to navigate.Whole Foods has great variety, selection, and quality…their exotic items are worth the splurge – at least once in a while.As for Trader Joe’s… love them too…that was one of the VERY few things I regret leaving behind in DC : ).
…isn’t anyone going to ask about the enviromental impact of developing this land? Where do those streams feed too? What wildlife will be displaced – and yes there IS wildlife back there. Just another attempt to overrdevelop our fair state in my opinion. We have a plethera of natural food stores – we don’t need another one! Sadly, it will probably happen but I for one hope not.
C’mon–this is South Burlington. It’s Vermont’s own New Jersey. It is either there or in Williston (Vermont’s own Northern California).
Re: Environmental Impacts. I’m more concerned about the downward pressure Whole Foods could exert on quality/price in local organic food production. The so-called “organic produce” I’ve seen at Whole Foods (and Wild Oats) is overpriced industrial crap shipped from who knows where. In order for a Whole Foods in Vermont to bank similar profit margins with local produce here their suppliers may well have to do some serious compromising on what Vermonters generally consider organic.
Nice scoop on the prospect of Whole Paychecks hitting S. Burlinton, Ms. Ober! Also good to see 25 comments and just one with a cute, back-handed compliment by your own pet troll, Haik Bedrosen.
Have any of you spent a lot of time in a Whole Foods, worked in a Whole Foods, or done comparison price shopping at a Whole Foods?
Yes, Whole Foods isn't a perfect company and they don't treat their employee's perfectly (I worked at the Hadley, MA store for 3 years), but what company does? But they are a big company and name me one business that has grown that big and managed not to change? I also worked at the old downtown Price Chopper in Burlington, VT for three years, so I know the difference between "upscale" (as someone above calls Whole Foods) and regular grocery stores.
Neither City Market nor Healthy Living are ever going to succeed in completely bring natural/organic/healthy food and living to the the whole community because they are too expensive and have a limited inventory. One of the values of Whole Foods is that they can purchase in such bulk that it lowers their prices and for some of us (myself included) it makes organic food purchasing more of an option. For a lot of people natural and organic food choices are a privilege, not a right/option.
Contrary to what some people have said above, Whole Foods does A LOT to support local farmers and local produce by way of purchasing their produce and selling it in their stores. But, no matter how much local produce they sell, any grocery store is always going to have to supplement their produce supply with food from other regions (whether its California, Chile, Canada, or China) because we simply CANNOT feed everyone in Vermont with food only grown here in Vermont.
Further more, the majority of the staff at Whole Foods are HELPFUL, FRIENDLY, WELCOMING, and KNOWLEDGEABLE. I cannot say the same for anyone I have ever come in contact with at either City Market or Healthy Living. Personally, I think it would be great to have a Whole Foods in So. Burlington to give City Market & Healthy Living a run for their money and a kick in the pants. They could use a bit of competition and a lesson or two in how to treat their customers better and what it truly means to "serve the community."
Have to say, I’m pretty darn excited for Whole Foods in SoBu! It was one of the things I missed most when I moved to VT.I’m not a fan of all chain stores, I do support local, and would hate to see either City Market (which won’t likely be hurt) and Healthy Living (much more likely to be hurt) negatively influenced by this. In agreement with KMMSTUDIO’s comment above, I think the Kmart lot (perfect!) or anywhere else on Shelburne Rd in South Burlington would be a better location. It wouldn’t have as much of a negative effect on Healthy Living and would benefit from much more commute traffic.I wonder if the location is a done deal or if they would consider an alternate spot? A new location may be rewarded with more local support.
I’m shocked and dismayed that S. Burlington would allow Whole Foods to build a store so close to both Healthy Living and City Market. Healthy Living is locally and independently owned and its prices are comparable to Whole Foods. They work with independent growers and retailers and totally support a local economy. The store is doing a bang up job of selling bulk items at terrific prices too. As for the customer service? I think its wonderful. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly and helpful. And the layout and display? It is so much more interesting than the miles of aisles in most stores; shopping becomes a sensory treat rather than a boring chore. I worry for out local economies with a behemoth moving in.As for an apple store? Small Dog Electronics on Dorset St.
I have lived in South Burlington for ten years and never heard or read anyone refer to it as “SoBu”. Is this an established thing?
Michael Pollan famously has been critical of Whole Foods for being more window dressing than substance about buying locally. But apparently, in response, they are trying to get better. If they do move to SoBu, consumer vigilance in support of our local farmers will be in order, as they apparently worry about public opinion….http://www.michaelpollan.com/article.php?id=83
The site plan looks like more of the kind of sprawl that we are trying to get away from – low density, single uses, auto-dependent. Wouldn’t it be nice to see a new store right up on a sidewalk and accessible to bicycles and an easy walk from residential neighborhoods – as in Burlington or Winooski?
What about the smaller fish like Cheese Traders? They get the same products that Whole Foods carries and sells them for a fraction of the cost — sure the can of tomatos might be dented, but you cannot beat their prices. I was pleased that Whole Foods was denied access and hope they move into Shelburne Road, that K-mart lot seems like a great spot.