Whole Foods and Central Market (Houston, Dallas: neighborhoods, income, prices)

[Topaz]

Can anyone please advise or speculate about why all the Whole Foods Markets in the Houston area are toward the west side of town? I'm curious why there aren't any located in or around the Clear Lake area. Is it a different demographic or something?

And why would Central Market put so many stores in the Dallas metro area and only ONE in the Houston area? What's up with that?

Anybody have any opinion or insider info?

My family may be moving to Houston and I'm realizing that I care a lot about grocery stores.

Thanks!

Topaz

[EasilyAmused]

The west side of town is where the money is, or the most concentrated area of upper-middle to upper class. Whole Foods is generally more expensive than your regular grocery store. Same with Central Market. You don't put high dollar groceries in a middle class neighborhoods. They're just following the demographic that will support their store.

I'm pretty serious about my produce and visit both those stores regularly.

[case44]

I'm surprised, too, that there's just one in H-town. You'd think The Woodlands, Sugar Land, and Katy would be drawing interest for future locations.

[Mr. Football]

They've said they aren't doing anymore Central Markets in Houston. Instead, they're opening hybrids like the new concept stores they've opened in Cypress and at Vintage Park.

As for Dallas: From what I understand, they don't have regular HEB's in Dallas and have entered that market with their CM branded stores. I think the newest location opened up in Southlake.

As for Whole Foods. I'm not sure it's necessarily upscale, more of a specialty niche. I shop there whenever I can and prices aren't far off from area grocers over here. I wish they would expand. They recently built a beautiful store in Sugar Land and I think they're planning one in The Woodlands.

[texas7]

There is a lot of money as well in the Clear Lake area so I can see why the question was raised about why there isn't one in that area.

[Wysiwyg]

SE Houston is Tex-Mex. wholefoods target market are the ones with diversified taste buds

[Mr. Football]

Demographics (income/population) of Houston Area Burbs Per General Growth Properties:

Woodlands Mall
Avg HH Income: $88,297
Current Population: 377,638
5 Year Growth Estimate: 451,139

Willowbrook Mall
Avg HH Income: $80,699
Current Population: 992,039
5 Year Growth Estimate: 1,144,803

Baybrook Mall
Avg HH Income: $73,692
Current Population: 653,940
5 Year Growth Estimate: 721,053

First Colony Mall
Avg HH Income: $72,903
Current Population: 653,385
5 Year Growth Estimate: 732,139

Deerbrook Mall
Avg HH Income: $64,718
Current Population: 503,190
5 Year Growth Estimate: 553,515

Source: GGP (http://www.ggp.com/Properties/MallDirectory.aspx - broken link)

[browniebabie]

there is a huge whole foods on 59 in sugar land....

[houstoner]

Most of the new growth and most popular, trendiest suburbs of the past few years seem to be located west of I-45, roughly speaking, although of course there are exceptions, so that is probably where most new development is concentrating its efforts.

[texas7]

Originally Posted by Wysiwyg

SE Houston is Tex-Mex. wholefoods target market are the ones with diversified taste buds

You've made an assumption about a whole lot of people you know nothing about - only think you do. SE Houston can cover a huge area and some of those quite upper income.