Whole Foods signs lease at Wexford Plaza (Pittsburgh, Greensburg: leases, home)

[greg42]

Whole Foods plans North Hills store

Yes, Wexford Plaza. Weird eh? (Not really. Think of the incomes around there.) They'll be doing some reconfiguring to make this fit, probably. Several of the small stores there have closed or moved up to The Village at Pine (where the new Giant Eagle is). There are a few contiguous empties, but even to fit this smaller store (if it is that small; apparently the average of the three leases Whole Foods has signed is roughly the same size as the East Liberty store) they might still have to move a couple shops around.

I thought this plaza was going to die, and they did a good job of not letting that happen, first with Levin Furniture, now this.

I'm still wondering why Giant Eagle didn't make their new store in Wexford into the full blown Market District type that they just opened in Robinson. That store opened maybe a year ago (I think less). Seems like a missed opportunity.

[neurodistortion]

Time will tell if Giant Eagle decides to put Market District in the North Hills, I think it will happen though. They've also been talking about putting a Whole Foods in the South Hills. Out here in Greensburg, they've just demolished the Mountain View Inn and they've announced that an upscale grocer is supposed to be coming to that spot, maybe it's Whole Foods?

[Geeo]

I don't see a Whole Foods in the Greensburg area. They're pretty picky about where they put a store. They need a population density within a certain number of miles combined with a certain income level. They probably looked at where the largest number of customers at their East Liberty store came from, so it looks like the North Hills won out. I do see them setting up shop somewhere in the South Hills at some point. East Liberty was the perfect first location for them because it was central and at the nexus of the sweet spot of population density and income level.

[AaronPGH]

I have a feeling this may have something to do with the trend towards more upscale retail in the north hills. I also think when they do finally land in the south hills, it will be a huge store. Still wondering when they're going to rebuild in E. Lib with a larger store too. I know that was talked about for a while.

[Geeo]

It looks like they've slowed down on building because of the recession. The North Hills store is one of only three for next year (Pittsburgh, Columbus, and Los Angeles) and they're all going to be around 30 - 35,000 sq.ft. Maybe they'll be doing bigger stores after the recession's over.

[Hopes]

I'm so glad this is going to be in Wexford instead of Cranberry.

Wexford is much more convenient for the inner townships like Hampton, McCandless, Shaler, Ross, but it's still convenient for people who live in Cranberry.

I might even shop more often at Whole Foods now that I won't have to deal with the crazy congestion in the East End.

Even the parking lot at the East End store is a headache!

[AaronPGH]

Originally Posted by Geeo

It looks like they've slowed down on building because of the recession.

It's less because of the recession, and more to do with the fact that they're coming out of a new store building freeze due to their merger with Wild Oats. They haven't been hit nearly as hard as other retailers have.

[greg42]

I'm happy to see Whole Foods go there and assuming I haven't moved will shop at that one at least sometimes. But I still really want Trader Joe's up north. Please, please.

[Geeo]

Hopefully the new store will relieve some of the crowding at the East Liberty store. Not so bad on weekdays, but on weekends they come in from far and wide to shop there.

[neurodistortion]

Originally Posted by Geeo

I don't see a Whole Foods in the Greensburg area. They're pretty picky about where they put a store. They need a population density within a certain number of miles combined with a certain income level. They probably looked at where the largest number of customers at their East Liberty store came from, so it looks like the North Hills won out. I do see them setting up shop somewhere in the South Hills at some point. East Liberty was the perfect first location for them because it was central and at the nexus of the sweet spot of population density and income level.

Well, according to the official Whole Foods website, they require at least 200,000 people or more in a 20-minute drive time. Greensburg has well over 200,000 people within a 20-minute radius. Also, they require a large number of college-educated residents, and Greensburg fits the bill, not to mention the area is home to five colleges and universities of higher learning. The income levels range from one community to another, but you have to take into account the higher income levels in Hempfield ($60,000), Unity ($60,000), Ligonier ($70,000), Penn ($70,000) or Murrysville ($80,000) and see how they all add up. Monroeville might be a better location but I don't see why Greensburg wouldn't.