Whole Foods Co-op in West Duluth, a/k/a WFC – Denfeld
Here’s how the Whole Foods Co-op broke the news about its new store on Feb. 24:
The future location of Duluth’s second Whole Foods Co-op will be 4426 Grand Ave. It will be a 7,000-square-foot store.
Is the new location decided? I thought the co-op was still holding forums to discuss it.
Within walking distance of my house! Glorious.
Jefferson Bus Depot. Will it be revered like the House of Donuts?
The new location was determined based on Owner surveys and feedback from the Annual Owner’s Meeting this past fall along with market studies based on criteria set by the Board. The Owner Forums have been addressing related issues (also determined by the Board as the process has moved forward) like the timeline and financing by Owners. There is another Owner Forum scheduled for March 22. The topic has not yet been chosen by the Board.
Excellent!
Excellent! I work just down the street, and the idea of being able to grab high-quality food on my way home from work is awesome.
Here are the floor plans. Click to see it larger.
I laughed that they spent money to print and mail such a nondescript layout. Oh well, member dollars at work.
Sharon Murphy, the co-op’s general manager, spoke to the West Duluth Business Club today. She said WFC plans to close on the 1.4-acre land purchase by June 30, and groundbreaking on the West Duluth store should begin in early September. It should open in late spring 2015. The building will be constructed to meet Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design certification standards. The architectural firm is LHB Architects & Engineers and the general contractor is Johnson Wilson Constructors.
A few other notes:
The Whole Food Co-op now has over 8,000 member owners.
The West Duluth store will have a larger sales floor than the Hillside store (although the Hillside store has more overall space because it has a basement level with offices).
The new store will have a kitchen teaching station for cooking classes like the Hillside store has.
The new store will have a hot bar / salad bar and serve grab-and-go sandwiches.
Prices should be the same in West Duluth as at the Hillside store, although some farmers won’t be able to grow enough for both stores, so not all of the suppliers will be the same.
Here are more drawings. Click to see them larger.
An update on the timeline: Construction is planned for June 2015 with a projected opening date in February 2016.