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Supposedly, everything is bigger in Texas and up until now, that adage has certainly held true for Whole Foods Market, which has their 80,000-sq. foot flagship store located in Houston. The company is now planning an even larger store for San Jose, California. At 86,000-sq. feet, the store will be the largest Whole Foods in the US and probably will hold the title for some time despite the fact that Whole Foods does seem to love large stores. With restaurants and spas opening inside supermarkets, what was once one-stop-shopping is now a shopping experience.
But is this getting out of hand? How large can a grocery store before it gets too big? This new Whole Foods, which will be located at the intersection of Blossom Hill Road and Almaden Expressway, will take up about 2 acres without including space for loading docks and parking. It's safe to say that it isn't exactly necessary to have a store that large, but do you prefer to seek out the biggest stores for your shopping when given the choice between a larger and smaller store of the same type?
1-27-2007 @6:15PM random said... The 80,000 sq ft Whole Foods landmark store is in Austin. Houston won't get a flagship store for another year or two.
The store is truly massive, and not even really in a good location, but that doesn't seem to deter the large number of people who shop there.
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1-27-2007 @7:47PM Charles b. said... At 300,000 square feet, I think Jungle Jim's in Cincinnati beats it. Granted, some of that is part of his strip mall and banquet center, but it is still really good. Great produce, and an unparalleled foriegn food department. I take people there on vacation as a tourist attraction.
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1-27-2007 @10:46PM Hawk said... I've noticed that the smaller Kroger stores are often poorly run, outdated, dirty, and frequented by shady people. The larger ones are in more upscale neighborhoods, more well lit, stocked with better items, etc.
However, we have a Trader Joe's here and it is *tiny*. Really, really tiny. At the same time, it's still an awesome place to get certain things (with that wonderful Trader Joes 'really cheap stuff but really limited selection')
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1-27-2007 @7:20PM dgarner said... The bigger the better when it comes to Whole Foods! Finally, something to rival the chemical laden super shopping of Vons, Albertsons, Ralphs, Giant, Safeway, Costco, Walmart, etc....if I am not mistaken, on the average, those stores are far bigger than Whole Foods. No one seems to complain about the size of these monstrous chains. What gives?
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1-27-2007 @8:20PM kaitlin Hess said... I think i draw the line at Wegmans-size. Bigger isn't always better.
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1-27-2007 @8:51PM bdw said... Bigger has more stuff. Smaller gets me out faster.
Depends on what I need that day. Also depends on their loss-leader sales.
Its all about me. Sez so on their telebishion advertising.
I want my senior citizens discount. Even though I'm only 52.
In other words, groceries are a commodity. Convenience and price rule all. Whole What? Wheat? Organic Which?
"I don't care if there's chemicals in it, as long as my lettuce is crisp. Preservatives might be preserving you now, I think that's something you missed." --Grace Slick
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1-28-2007 @1:40PM Dr Electro said... Since I have to shop for the best bargains I am forced to do most of my shopping at a Wal=Mart superstore. I hate the place. I have to use an electric scooter to get around the place. The next option is an H-E-B supermarket which is roomy but I am able to push a cart and stay on my feet. I really like it but the prices are higher.
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1-27-2007 @9:37PM Laura said... Isn't super-sizing the antithesis of the organic, sustainable, quality-vs-quantity ideal? It's incredibly bold of them to preach about saving the environment when a building that size will easily use as much energy as a small apartment complex. The only "sustainable" thing about Whole Foods is their hypocrisy.
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1-28-2007 @7:44AM Aleks said... I think that there is a fundamental problem with a "sustainable" business building new. With so much already built in any place in the US, surely Whole Foods could have found a site that did not require them to build from the ground up. And even if that is not the case, which is possible since decisions about location, real estate, etc., are complex and I do not pretend to understand their nuances, Whole Foods could make a concerted effort to build this store to function sustainably. If WF built the new store and did it with LEED certificaton, I bet they would get a ridiculous amount of press out of it. However, American building standards being what they are, I doubt they would make the additional investment. I admit, however, to a deep love of Wegman's, far more so than Whole Foods. Trader Joe's is amazing too. Whole Foods is really wonderful too but overpriced and a bit too yuppie for me.
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1-28-2007 @10:08AM alice radley said... I live in London now. I miss the large supermarkets of the states. Often, I cannot find the ingredients I need at the small stores here. I have taken to shopping for groceries online.
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1-28-2007 @8:47AM Danny Ihde said... It sounds GGRRRRREEEEAAAAATTTTT. Even though I will not likely find Tony Tiger there I plan to frequent the new store. Whole Foods is changing my grocery shopping habits. I think it will be a great addition to the community.
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1-28-2007 @10:25AM calamari said... For grocery stores, I want them either tiny (corner store size) so I'm not bothered with the stress of choices or super-gargantuan (so they have everything on earth, and the misery of being there is rewarded by buying cool stuff).
It's the mid-sized stores that I hate -- they're big enough that no daylight penetrates past the checkstands, but not big enough to have exactly what I want.
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1-28-2007 @10:41AM Jason said... I think what everyone's missed is why the new stores are so big. Whole Foods just opened up a new store in Fair Lakes, Virginia (a suburb of Washington, D.C.). My partner just transferred there from the store in Alexandria, VA. Fair Lakes has a larger grocery section, but that's not what makes it so large. The store has 4 or 5 different "venues" that serve up meals that are made by chefs right there - seafood, barbeque, etc. Not to mention the wine tasting room, gelato bar (made in house), and the full-scale bakery that does everything from scratch instead of relying on a central bakehouse. So bigger, in this case, means more tasty (and pre-prepared) ways to spend your money, but that does not mean that the grocery section is overwhelming.
In case you want more information: http://washingtontimes.com/business/20070121-102602-7590r.htm
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1-28-2007 @10:48AM Angela said... I live in Austin and am in total awe of the Whole Foods flagship. I disagree that it is in a bad place, it is right downtown with underground parking and all. It is truly amazing. The only downside is that I need extra time to go there because I just wander around with my mouth gaping open. SO for everyday shopping, yes it is too large. I go to the much more manageable Central Market for the everyday stuff, but for amazing food and an amazing experience, it is perfect.
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1-28-2007 @12:52PM Bear Silber said... It will be located in an old RiteAid building so it will not be new constrcution. It will definately bring more business to the shopping center than was previously there. It will be a great improvement to the area. There is also a Trader Joe's located just across the street if you do want something quick from a smaller store. I think it's terrific. I live 2 minutes from where this store will be.
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1-28-2007 @2:44PM ayenonimoss said... You have to keep in mind a few things:
1) People want wide aisles, and lots of selection (so store have th be bigger than they used to)
2) The margins in the supermarket business are very low ($.10 on a box of cereal, roughly)
3) The larger a store is, the more the company makes per square foot.
So if Whole Foods has a spa, and 6 people get a massage daily, or if HEB sells one of those dusty coolers, they are making much more profit than they are on selling food.
It is to the advantage to a supermarket to be bigger.
That being said, 80K square feet is big, most new supermarkets are in the 50-60k range, older supermarkets are in the 20-30k range, and as of now the industry does not anticipate that supermarkets will get over 100k.
No answer here, just unsubstantiated facts.
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1-28-2007 @7:43PM GhaleonQ said... I despise Whole Foods, but as for grocery stores as a whole, there may be no limit. In fact, if I can run ladder sprints through the aisles, I might splurge on some higher-priced blue cheeses.
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1-29-2007 @4:23PM Cindy said... ~sobbing~
I live in a culinary wasteland. The closest Whole Foods is two hours away. Trader Joe's? I don't think I could get there and back in a day.
I envy those who have Whole Foods.
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