Whole Foods to open Greensboro store : News-Record.com : Greensboro & the Triad's most trusted source for local news and analysis

GREENSBORO — Cross one store off Greensboro’s wish list.

Whole Foods Market, a natural and organic grocer, plans to open a store at Friendly Center in spring 2012. The company will lease about 34,000 square feet from Sears.

Currently, the closest Whole Foods store to Greensboro is in Winston-Salem. Like Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods is frequently mentioned in online polls of what local shoppers want the most to come here. People have been asking the company for years to come to Greensboro.

“We’ve been looking in Greensboro for a while,” said Darrah Horgan, a company spokeswoman. “Our stores in North Carolina have been really great for us, so Greensboro was an obvious next step.”

Whole Foods recently signed a long-term lease with Sears for space on the first floor of Sears’ store that fronts Pembroke Road in Friendly Center.

Sears will remain in the rest of its location, which includes about 160,000 square feet, and will offer its typical products and services. The store’s layout will be reconfigured, but it will remain open during that process, said Sears spokeswoman Kimberly Freely.

The timeline for when work will begin has not been released.

Sears has been leasing parts of some stores across the country to be more efficient with its real estate, Freely said. This is its first lease with Whole Foods.

Whole Foods has retooled during the recession, halting its dividend, cutting costs, closing some stores and offering more lower-priced options. The company also slowed its new store openings.

But sales have been on an upward swing for several quarters. On Wednesday, the company said its quarterly net income doubled and it raised its profit outlook for the year.

Whole Foods hasn’t opened a new store in its southern region since 2007 but is planning to open five stores during the next two years, including one in Raleigh in 2011 and one in Charlotte in 2012.

When open, the Greensboro store will likely employ 80-120 people, Horgan said.

More information about Whole Foods is online at www.wholefoodsmarket.com.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Contact Michael Grossman at 373-7092 or michael.grossman@news-record.com

Allan Design

November 4, 2010 - 9:03 am EDT

We have NC owned Earth Fare here in Greensboro so I am not enthusiastic about Whole Foods coming to town unless they've already arranged to buy out Earth Fare. I am not sure Greensboro can support both stores, though that would be great. I just hope an NC owned business isn't ruined by this giant.

Yvonne1

November 4, 2010 - 9:41 am EDT

People are flocking to Whole Foods in Winston-Salem; why not in Greensboro. Earth Fare is a fine store. But, we need choices. There are many grocery stores in Greensboro, some of which are now providing limited organic selections. It appears to me there is a need for organic grocers in Greensboro. When there is a need; then fill that need. I'm looking forward to the addition of Whole Foods in Greensboro. I just wish 2011 was their target date rather than 2012.

Leigh

November 4, 2010 - 9:43 am EDT

I wish it were 2011 also so I could stop driving to Chapel Hill and Winston Salem!

d_random

November 4, 2010 - 9:26 am EDT

I welcome Whole Foods. Hopefully that will bring more competitive prices from Earth Fare.

rasjayee

November 4, 2010 - 9:34 am EDT

We have community owned Deep Roots Market. They have provided healthy, organic food choices for over 30 years. It would be wonderful to see the community support Deep Roots in their expansion efforts instead of drooling over the prospect of corporate Whole Foods. Deep Roots helped to create the market for healthy and organic foods in Greensboro. It would be a shame to allow a corporation to come in and reap the benefits from the efforts of this fine institution.

November 4, 2010 - 10:54 am EDT

Unfortunately, my experience with Deep Roots has not been positive. I've bought produce that molded by the next day and other products that did not last even a week. I understand the lack of preservatives, but I cannot shop daily so I need things to last a week at a time.

humorous2me

November 4, 2010 - 2:51 pm EDT

Rasjayee, my experiences with Deep Roots weren't that great either. In an attempt to support my local businesses, I went multiple times and didn't like either experience. Please forgive me, but I am lured by the bright, clean atmosphere at Whole Foods. I'm lured by products I can't find at Earth Fare and clearly marked aisles with plenty of employees to help. I highly doubt that those who are loyal to Deep Roots are going to ditch DR for WF.

hugh

November 4, 2010 - 7:06 pm EDT

Deep roots has a cult patronage analogous to multilevel marketing. Instead of a smugness from the idea of making money off someone, the Deep Roots cult revel in the idea that they think they are making a "difference" in their community by supporting a "community" store which makes them "special" people.

The crappy co-op discount, cramped store and limited product selection can only support a certain number of shoppers and the smugness of being special doesn't appeal to enough of the buying public to raise the enterprise above its steel building, Spring Garden Street location.

November 4, 2010 - 9:40 am EDT

I understand the comments made about supporting local business, and I usually agree. However, Deep Roots has very limited selection and Earth Fare is not run particularly well, and their prices are very high. They are out of what I am shopping for about half the time. It is a challenge to buy reasonably priced organic, healthy food and Whole Foods provides that. It is my desire to buy as much as possible at the Greensboro Yanceyville Farmer's Market, but obviously I cannot supply all my family's needs there. I am ecstatic that Whole Foods is coming. I have been driving to Chapel Hill and Winston Salem to shop. At least this way Greensboro should reap the tax benefits.

November 4, 2010 - 10:14 am EDT

Deep Roots is limited only by their current space. Community support would help them develop into a store that would rival Whole Foods and Earth Fare. The best thing is that it will be our store, providing the items we want. Before welcoming Whole Foods to Greensboro with open arms, remember that they would not exist without small stores like Deep Roots who provided healthy foods, supplements and education about the products. Instead of trying to be Chapel Hill or Winston Salem, let's look to Carrboro and Weaver Street market as a model. We can have a great community owned market and not wait for Whole Foods to decide to grace us with their presence.

newtogso

It's not an either/or. Let's welcome Whole Foods AND let's support the growth and expansion of Deep Roots. Neither one of these stores will solve the food desert that is east and south greensboro.

ChadinGSO

November 4, 2010 - 11:38 am EDT

you shouldnt have to wear patchouli to shop for organic products. I feel looked down upon in deeproots because I dont have dreadlocks and body odor. I welcome Whole Foods 100%

November 4, 2010 - 12:25 pm EDT

I was happy when Deep Roots was supposed to open the larger store on W. Market St. however, that never happened. I prefer vegetables, and the selection at Deep Roots is not very good and many times the produce is old. I would love to support local places too, but not at the expense of the product. Whole Foods will also bring some new jobs to Greensboro. Many times I have gone into Deep Roots for something specific and they haven't had it.

avondale

November 4, 2010 - 7:39 pm EDT

@ChadinGSO - Well said. I am not a snooty socialite but I definitely don't feel comfortable at Deep Roots. And Earth Fare needs some competition to help bring their prices down.

@newstogso -I do feel for the people in east and south Greensboro, as I work in that area. But I'm not sure this genre of grocery stores would do well if placed there.

kjeffers2

November 5, 2010 - 10:47 pm EDT

I live in Southeast GSO and would gladly shop at one of the stores. The problem with these stores in the southeastern and northeastern neighborhoods is the price point.

vicki45

November 6, 2010 - 6:20 pm EDT

Actually patchouli is a very nice essential oil.....and dreadlocks are very cool...and no, I do not have them...but they can be worn only by people that can pull off that look.....

I have never felt looked down on at Deep Roots....you must have a complex???

I have never had the unfortunate experience of smelling body odor...especially when the first thing you smell upon entering the quaint little store is their abundant area of aromatheraphy products:)

We have had great customer service, especially when ordering bulk Dr. Bronner soaps in fragrances they do not carry in the store. They order for you and do not charge an ordering fee which is nice...

DeepRoots will always be one of my places to shop....they have better prices on nag champa than anywhere else.

For the person emailing about greek yogurt... Costco has a name brand in bulk....very good deal!!!!!

uncwgm

November 4, 2010 - 9:51 am EDT

I'd love to see a Whole Foods here and Earth Fare seems to have plenty of business.

Gso Resident

November 4, 2010 - 9:52 am EDT

Can't quite gather what part of Sears they're going into ? The main store is quite compact with all its departments ? Possibly taking over the stand alone auto center ?

November 4, 2010 - 9:53 am EDT

The arrival of Whole Foods will not mean the end of Deep Roots much in the same way it didn't when Earth Fare arrived. My hope would be that they all continue to thrive.

newkid

November 4, 2010 - 10:00 am EDT

Now all we need is a Trader Joe's (and in a downtown location)!

Mialamasoul

November 4, 2010 - 10:31 am EDT

Now all we need is for Deep Roots to move over on Yanceyville or Summit, and Trader Joe's to be on Bessemer.

tdr123

November 4, 2010 - 3:18 pm EDT

We are getting a Trader Joes!! Check the website. It's coming either Spring 11 or 12.

Michael Grossman

November 4, 2010 - 3:28 pm EDT

Can you provide a link? I don't see a Greensboro coming soon under either their store locator or their opening soon list.

tuffi

November 4, 2010 - 3:52 pm EDT

I have been "bugging" TJ's to open in Greensboro. I get tired of driving to Chapel Hill! I looked at their website and I see no mention of moving to Greensboro NC. Where did you see that?

November 4, 2010 - 7:50 pm EDT

@ tdr123 - Please check your facts before you post them online. Nowhere on the Trader Joes website does it say there is a store coming to this area. In fact, the next four openings will be in the mid-west.

November 5, 2010 - 8:34 am EDT

Calm down, it's not politics, it's just a grocery store. Here's what I read and when I visited Trader Joe's in Raleigh, two employees confirmed a TJ in Greensboro. If it is really that important, call the home office.

November 5, 2010 - 8:39 am EDT

Sorry, here's what I read...
The store will occupy approximately 15,000 square feet of retail development space currently occupied by Harris Teeter in the Lawndale Shopping Center of Battleground in Northern Greensboro.
I also read they were looking in Friendly Center, but there was not a free standing building available.

November 5, 2010 - 8:44 am EDT

Thanks. We've heard that rumor as well and have called Trader Joe's corporate several times in the past year and they won't confirm it. Also have heard similar things from employees in other N.C. stores, and again the company won't officially confirm. Now that they know when Whole Foods plans to come, maybe they'll step up their effort (if there is one) to come to Greensboro.

Unaffiliated

November 4, 2010 - 4:23 pm EDT

We don't even have a Harris Teeter in SE Guilford!

c.cornwallis

November 4, 2010 - 10:20 am EDT

I am amazed at how some of the residents of Greensboro will find a reason to oppose EVERYTHING! This is always the case. If it's new, it's bad. If it means growth, it's bad. If it is in anyway different from what it is now here, it's bad. Please do us all a favor and realize that Greensboro is a CITY in North Carolina, not a hamlet or a parish or even a town. But a CITY. Then go find some property in upstate N. Dakota where nobody will ever do anything to bother you again.

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