Whole Foods Vs. Food Coop
Today the Observer runs a story on the impending arrival of Whole Foods and its possible threat to the Park Slope Food Coop. “Whole Foods is more of an ideological challenge to the Park Slope Food Coop, the headquarters of arch-Park Slope living, than it is a threat to business,” states the article, which points…
Today the Observer runs a story on the impending arrival of Whole Foods and its possible threat to the Park Slope Food Coop. “Whole Foods is more of an ideological challenge to the Park Slope Food Coop, the headquarters of arch-Park Slope living, than it is a threat to business,” states the article, which points out the the Coop has a higher profit margin than Whole Foods. Writer and Park Slope resident Amy Sohn vowed not to make the switch from the Coop to Whole Foods, but hoped the Coop members “who wind up on the blacklist” would. She says the people who will enjoy the Whole Foods most “Want to replicate their sort of Mall of America experience in New York City, so they love that you can have a Whole Foods in Brooklyn.” Like it or not, the site will be built: the article reveals an Austin-based construction company will begin work 2011 and will open the store late 2012.
Whole Prudes: Austin Comes to Gowanus [Observer]
“Yes, that’s right, everyone who is NOT a member of the co-op is a godless misanthrope who kicks puppies, votes republican, and shops at Walmart.”
I’m a Republican but I’ve never kicked a puppy and I sure as hell don’t shop at Walmart. The godless misanthrope part I’ll have to assess on a case-by-case basis.
[Clydefrazier runs to the dictionary to look up misanthrope]
The general coordinators at the coop used to worry about whole foods, and other competition but I don’t think they need to now. Orientations for new members get booked quickly so there are more that want to join than are able to. There’s already Union Market, Fairway, Trader Joe’s. Whole Foods may be reason enough for a handful who live in Gowanus or want to drive to shop to leave the coop but they’ll be replaced by new members and it will balance out.
DIBS, aka BrownstonerButtBoy,
The momma’s basement insult is very tired. Try something more original. Not that there’s anything wrong with it, but you give gay men a bad name.
Does Clyde Frazier know that a half wit like you is using his name from your computer in your momma’s basement??
The Observer has about as much insight into life in Brooklyn as the village voice’s cover articles reprsent cutting-edge investigative journalism.
Amy Sohn’s whole image and claim to fame is representing a certain Gen Xer archetype who was part of the 90s and beyond renewal of NYC, choosing to make the city home. If anything, she should be on the bandwagon whole-heartedly.
I doubt the coop is worried about Whole Foods – right now they would love to shed members to reduce the lines, and have had to limit new members from signing up. If more people leave to go to Whole Foods, then they will be able to ease up on letting more new members join, which has been increasingly in demand since the start of the recession.
And the reason there isn’t a store like this already is probably more to do with lack of space than the coop. Big chains require a certain amount of square footage that isn’t present due to zoning, and existing stores, on the major avenues of Park Slope, and only a destination store like Whole Foods can really sustain itself on 3rd Ave right now.
Union Market, right down the street, does just fine and many members of the coop shop there as well, supplementing their coop orders, as well as shopping there when the lines are too long. All in all, the competitiveness is overblown because they will likely co-exist in perfect harmony.
I was just going to sit this one out and giggle (DIBS vs. CF – more, more!)
But what about Fairway? I’ll throw that into the mix.
votes republican?
Egad! there may be children reading this!!!
“”and you don’t have to be bothered with putting in sweat equity, or getting to know your neighbors or fostering community”
Yes, that’s right, everyone who is NOT a member of the co-op is a godless misanthrope who kicks puppies, votes republican, and shops at Walmart.
ClydeFrazier = Amy Sohn