whole-foods-sign-0709.jpgCheck out the response from Whole Foods to the Brooklyn Paper’s story this week…apparently the high-end grocery chain has not definitely wiped its hands of it. Click here for prior Brownstoner coverage and click through for the memo…

TO: Craig Hammerman

FROM: Mark Mobley
Whole Foods Market

DATE: July 10, 2009

RE: Update on Whole Foods Market’s plan in Brooklyn – “Reports
of our demise have been greatly exaggerated”

I am writing with just a quick update to let you know that recent reports
of Whole Foods Market’s demise in Brooklyn seem to have been greatly
exaggerated! As you may have seen, the Brooklyn Paper published a story
this week that inaccurately suggests we have definitively decided not to
pursue the development of a store on our property at 3rd Street and 3rd
Avenue and further that we are planning to sell the property. This is
simply not true and we have sent a letter to the Brooklyn Paper editor
clarifying our position and requesting a correction.

You may recall that last Fall I sent you a memo explaining that Whole
Foods Market had begun re-evaluating our plans for our property and that
we would be working to identify potential development partners for a
Brooklyn store. That is exactly what we have been doing in recent months
and we are continuing these efforts in hopes of arriving at a potential
development scenario that will enable us to finally come to Brooklyn .

Therefore, while nothing has yet been finalized and we are still not in a
position to be able to share any additional information, please be assured
that we will be back in touch as soon as we are able to provide more
details about our plans.


What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

  1. If WF is still talking about opening at this location, then what’s the deal with 470 Vanderbilt (@Fulton)? That location is so much more centrally located and near all the Atlantic/Pacific subways whereas the Gowanus location is going to compete with Fairway for all those who have access to a car.

  2. So, WHOLE PAYCHECK is coming to Brooklyn to pry our wages out and send ’em to corporate headquarters. Why don’t some enterprising individual(s) set up shop here in Brooklyn and use the skill and ingenuity of local New York State (and City!) organic farmers where possible, and sell good food that is not the rip-off that Whole Foods certainly is (not that their products are not good). This would keep profits local and also help the environment by keeping Whole Foods’ trucks hauling cross country (and crosstown).