Whole Foods Market is coming to our area next year. This will be their 3rdstore in San Diego County, and it just a hop, skip and jump from South Carlsbad.
We had a Whole Foods Market in Cambridge (2 of them, actually) back in the Boston area and it was terrific. Not that there aren't some good stores here (Henry's [formerly owned by Whole Foods]in Carlsbad and Encinitas, Seaside Market in Cardiff, Jimbo's at The Forum in South Carlsbad), but Whole Foods is a step up, in my opinion.
The store is not inexpensive, and you probably don't want to do ALL your shopping there, but there is lots of good stuff, especially for take out.
This 10,000 SF store will be the anchor tenant at "Pacific Station" in Encinitas at 687 South Coast Highway (Route 101), and construction is due to begin in the spring of 2008 at a cost of about $20 million for the 25,000 SF complex.
This will be a mixed use complex, with condos, offices, retail stores and a restaurant. Prices for housing will range from $450,000 for a flat of about 650 SF, while townhomes are expected to be priced in the $700,000 - $800,000 range.
The building of this new facility is not without controversy, as one would expect, given the small downtown area of Encinitas and the traffic the community already has on the coast road. Plans have been made to provide some changes in the traffic lanes at the complex to ease traffic flow.
Lucky you. Our neighborhood market is the 7/11.
Not enough population in Lovettsville for a grocer. Trader Joe's was coming to the new town center, but when the real estate bust hit and the new town builders couldn't being the population boom, Trader Joe's pulled out.
I'm 14 miles from a decent grocer, Giant, and 25 miles from Harris Teeter.
Oh well, at least I have the pleasure of watching deer walking in front of my house.
Jeff,
I think our Publix shopping here opened up their version of whole foods buy I haven't been there yet...I have to find the locations.
Congrats! I have to drive a good hour! Stinks but it sure is fun once I get there.
LOL, Lenn. Too bad, we have Trader Joe's and a bunch of other upscale grocers as well. Great for us foodies. But then we don't have the open space you do. But I get an occasional coyote in teh yard (there are on the golf course) and plenty of rabbits. I actually have had buyers who want to be within several miles of the Trader Joe's!
Jeff
Missy - the one we had in Cambridge was like that - really no more room for parking in the city, but it was always crazy. I expect this new one will be all the rage and crowded. But it'w worth it.
Jeff
Neal - well, if it's the same it's worth it. Another store out here that is even more upscale (a trimmed down version of the food halls at Harrod's in London) is BRistol Farms.
Jeff
Jessica - ouch! Now that's too far to drive for good take out.
Jeff
Diane - hmm, al, well, uh, we do have a TJ about 3 miles from my house. And another one going in up the road about 2 miles. :)
Jeff
Linda - I love that store. Especially the fresh bread, chees, pasta, and DESSERTS!! I have no will power there, especially if I an hungry. :)
Jeff
Lola - agreed. I remember your article about it, too!
Jeff
Kaye - yep, they are pretty amazing. Of course they are not inexpensive, but well worth it IMO. Have fun!
Jeff
I've long hoped for a SD North County Whole Foods (WF) location and continually ask the La Jolla staff about such. When I finally heard rumblings of an Encinitas location I was thrilled as I live in Encinitas and knew the Alberston's at Encinitas Blvd (close to Westlake St) had recently closed!
Knowing WF efforts to ‘go green’ – I though this was a lovely place to re-structure and build ‘up’ into 2 stories (as the Pearl District WF in Portland, Or.) After all, it was a great place to ‘reuse’.
THEN I found out not only was WH going into quaint 101 Encinitas, but it was going into a massive ‘newly built’ development which will undoubtedly change the ‘culture’ of Encinitas, but also knock down old Encinitas main stays.
I was very disheartened to hear that Whole Foods has decided to take this action!
It feels as if it goes against what Whole Foods pretends to stand for.
Why not use an already standing structure!?
Conflicted - well I have to agree. It's so difficult in some areas to combine progress with the current look adn feel of a communtiy. It may be that they could not retrofit any of the current buildings to their liking, or there were issues with town building codes and such.
Jeff
If you consider the old corregated metal warehouse that is being knocked down to be quaint, then I'm afraid there will be no location "green" enough for you. I have always considered those industrial buildings to be one of the eyesores of downtown Encinitas.
Also, last time I checked, there was no open space left anywhere near downtown Encinitas that could be built on. And like many of the buildings here in North County, these structures have nowhere near the quality or architecture of the buildings Whole Foods reused in the Pearl District. Sorry, the strip mall dotted landscape of San Diego is no Portland. Plus, I will now be able to walk to the grocery store, something rare indeed in Southern California.
There is just no pleasing those who are hyper sensitive progress. I for one think it will co-exist nicely with the funky culture of Encinitas... way more than an Alberstons would anyway.
Development in the name of progress is always a tough issue in established areas when trying to meld existing buildings and architectural feel with more modern. Some do it well, some do not. A lot depends on the town's commitment to maintaining a certain feel to the town, if that is important, vs. looking at the benefits of newer. more modern buildings that perhaps do not fit. Will Whol;e Foods fit in well? I certainly hope so. I love the the advantage of having a store like this vs. VONS or the other big package stores.
Jeff