@BlogKCWhere will Whole Foods go? is a popular guessing game in Midtown. Maybe the old Osco/Katz drug store on Main Street? Maybe the old Apple Market at Broadway and Valentine?
Rumor has it that Whole Foods is now considering a site on West 51st Street for the relocation and expansion of its tiny Midtown Wild Oats store. UMKC is planning a mixed-use development for what is now a parking lot south of 51st, between Oak Street and Brookside Boulevard. We have heard that adjacent neighborhood associations are being consulted on the project, but that the grocer has yet to make a firm commitment.
This would be the end of a decade-long process to find a bigger home for the Midtown Wild Oats store. Back in 2000, the building that now houses World Market in Westport was renovated for Wild Oats to combine it’s Midtown and Mission, KS stores. The company’s financial meltdown and takeover by Whole Foods killed that plan.
Speaking of groceries and rumors, according to a co-worker, the employees of one of the StL Trader Joe’s have been told that some of them will be coming to the Kansas City area for new store startup in early 2010…could it be? Here’s hoping…
They could always just expand the store at 43rd & Main. Per square foot that’s the highest earning store companywide.
anonymous, where would they expand? The space next to them has tenants. They could take over the whole building and it the store would still be too small.
I think it’s amazing how much stuff they cram into that little space. I would like to see more prepared foods and a deli section though.
i have also heard West Elm is looking to move from its leahood location for a downtown location…