Thursday, July 27, 2017

[BREAKING NEWS] Whole Foods Market to Open Next Month in Chamblee

Well placed sources indicate that Whole Foods Market has finally set a date for their highly anticipated new store in Chamblee.  ToNeTo Atlanta and our friends at The Brookhaven Post were first to report on the planned store in January 2015 and I'm pleased to say the store is expected to open Friday August 18th! 
A Whole Foods Market representative declined my request for confirmation of the planned opening, saying that a announcement regarding the store's opening is planned for tomorrow.  ToNeTo Atlanta reported in April that Whole Foods "typically announce an opening date about 3 weeks before," meaning that an announcement tomorrow would be right on time.

The new 45,000 square foot Whole Foods Market is the cornerstone of the Peachtree Station development, at the corner of Peachtree Boulevard and Johnson Ferry Road, and is meant to serve the Chamblee and Brookhaven markets. 

In addition to the Whole Foods Market, Atlanta's The Cook's Warehouse is opening as the center's junior anchor.  The store, which sources say is expected to open about the same time as Whole Foods Market, is meant to serve as a replacement for The Cook's Warehouse store that closed in early 2015 in Brookhaven.    

When they open, Whole Foods Market and The Cook's Warehouse will join Chipotle Mexican Grill,  Zoës Kitchen, Taqueria Del Sol, T-Mobile, Mattress Firm, Banfield Pet Hospital, Club Pilates, and Dentists of Chamblee as tenants open in the center.
YEAH! Burger, the Atlanta based "better burger" concept, had signed on to open in the center, but has since pulled out.  

YEAH! Burger's Buckhead location at Buckhead Exchange is also in doubt, with zero work having been done and talk of them pulling back on expansion.  Another YEAH! Burger is expected to open in the Green Hills neighborhood of Nashville, Tennessee. 

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa expects to open August 7. 

Other upcoming Peachtree Station tenants include CRS Outdoor, a new retailer described as being similar to Mountain High Outfitters and RAK Outfitters, Great Clips, Menchies, Tokyo Belly (from the owners of The One Sushi +, Katana and most recently Monkey 68), Verizon, Luxury Nails, AFC Urgent Care, Carriage Cleaners, Pearle Vision, deka lash, bare wax and Hollywood Feed, a boutique pet store.  
Unless you have been living under a rock, you're probably aware (and perhaps cautiously optimistic) at the news that Seattle based Amazon.com plans to purchase Austin, Texas based Whole Foods Market for $13.7 billion.  The deal, announced June 16th, sent shockwaves through the grocery industry, notably credited with causing grocer Kroger's stock to tumble 9%.  

While early reports indicated the Amazon/Whole Foods deal would close by the end of 2017, new concerns over the planned acquisition may delay the completion of the acquisition until May of 2018.  

Elsewhere in metro Atlanta, the planned Whole Foods Market at Kennesaw Marketplace at the corner of Ernest Barrett and Cobb Parkways, is progressing towards what sources claim will be an "early-mid fall 2017" opening.   Another Whole Foods Market is planned for midtown Atlanta next year.  The new multi-level, 70,000 square foot "flagship" store will open at the corner of Spring & 14th Streets and is expected to open "Spring/Summer 2018," after having originally been planned for a late 2017 debut.  

Whole Foods is also bringing their new concept, 365 by Whole Foods Market, to Atlanta.  The grocer plans to open 365 stores in Decatur and Buckhead.   The Decatur store will anchor the new North Decatur Square development at the corner of North Decatur Road and Church Street. The Buckhead store will anchor the re-imagined Paces Ferry Plaza at West Paces Ferry and Northside Parkway.  Both stores are expected to open in late 2018. 

[Update 10:30AM 7/28] - An official release from Whole Foods Market confirms that the store will open August 18th and further details that the store will feature a  Revelator Coffee Company coffee bar featuring their seasonal, fresh coffee as well as wine and beer. The store will also feature multiple flavors of macarons from Alon’s Bakery.

Are you excited about the upcoming Chamblee Whole Foods Market?  If Amzon.com does successfully purchase Whole Foods Market, will you shop there more, less or the same?  What is your "go-to" grocer in metro Atlanta?

Please share your thoughts below. 

10 comments:

RichKnobSales said...

News is that Amazon will start delivery of Sprouts items - have you heard about this?

Mark said...

I am looking forward to the new Whole Foods opening because it is closer to me than is the Sandy Springs location. There are a few items I like to pick up there. The Amazon.com purchase makes me no difference, though I do fear it may have an adverse effect on the largely pleasant customer service currently offered at WF.

My preferred place to purchase groceries is Your Dekalb Farmer's Market. I used to travel to it from out of state before I moved here and have made my weekly trips for nearly 20 years since relocating to the area. I also like Buford Highway Farmer's Market and there are a few items I get there that I can't get at YDFM.

Anonymous said...

@RichKnobSales - they've started. But I think (may be wrong) that it's an Atlanta specific deal. Instacart has the contract with Whole Foods, so Amazon (wanting to keep customers happy) contracted with Sprouts.

Unknown said...

I got an email from Amazon confirming this yesterday with their 2-hour delivery service.

Anonymous said...

Dang it! Chamblee real estate is on fire due to this and other developments in the area

Anonymous said...

I still wish it was a Trader Joe's!

Anonymous said...

Love Trader Joes! I stopped shopping at hold-alot-less food because they (like k-rogers) want to monopolize in this area and knock out the competition. I shop with my money elsewhere. I'm going to hate it when they open in Kennesaw and close down Harry's. Sad.

cafeej said...

Rode the bike through the shopping center yesterday and the store still has a lot to do but it is amazing the progress that can be made when working nights as well. The Starbucks has put up their signs so they will not be too far behind. Taqueria del Sol is killing it - anticipate parking issues when all the stores are open. There are already a lot of eating options there so Yeah Burger! was probably wise to pull out.

Anonymous said...

Following up on Anon @ 7/29/17 @ 3:38PM - Was at Harry's this weekend. It's different. Looks like they're already reducing inventory. There just wasn't as much product in the store. I hate that they deem a store over 6 miles away a substitute. In the grocery world (in a major city), 6 miles is way too far. The Whole Foods on Johnson Ferry is also 6+ miles. I live in Smyrna - so Harry's is most convenient. So once they're closed, Sandy Springs Whole Foods is closest. Oh well, guess it'll be Sprouts for me

Anonymous said...

Parking will definitely be an issue there. I hate how they cram so many stores in and don't have adequate parking. It ruins the experience. I'm not going to shop there if it's a hassle.

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