Whole Foods... (Dallas, Alamo, Bandera: lenders, homes, neighborhoods)

[jwebtx]

Originally Posted by mojokitty

You still haven't told us where you get your basis on the comments of "Most people on the suburban west side of SA (Potranco-Culebra on either side of 1604) move there because the housing is exceptionally cheap (and either brand new or sorta new" and "people who choose to purchase a cheaper house aren't as likely to patronize more expensive grocers like Whole Foods" and "I just don't think you guys like to spend money, and you don't seem to mind generic suburban stuff". Those three comments in your thread are NOT facts, they are opinons and are insulting. Unless you polled a majority of people out here, you can't just spurt out what we are thinking or why we live here. My home is not cheap, I shop at WF, and honestly I DON'T like living in the suburbs. I'm a total city girl and wish I lived there. If living in the suburbs means my husband is closer to work and my little one goes to a better school, than so be it. Dvlpr, I'm not trying to start a war, but it's not polite to start making comments or assumptions about people who live in a certain part of the city. There are plenty of people I know here who drive across town to lovely restaurants and shop in better food stores. We just wish we would get the same type of stuff on this side and amazingly, it would probably do well!

Mojo, you are personalizing the demographics of your area. Why you or your friends bought houses in that neighb does not necessarily translate to the reason(s) the overwhelming # of people in a general area (not just your block or subdivision) purchased there. Developers of housing and businesses (like whole foods) generally conduct studies that would include demographics and spending habbits prior to embarking on a project. I would suspect Dvlpr has a good sense of what drives home sales & who is purchasing in your area (since he develops there).

An interesting # to look at would be the foreclosures in that general area relative to the rest of the city. That would be a down and dirty calc to see the spending power there.

[dvlpr]

Originally Posted by mojokitty

You still haven't told us where you get your basis on the comments of "Most people on the suburban west side of SA (Potranco-Culebra on either side of 1604) move there because the housing is exceptionally cheap (and either brand new or sorta new" and "people who choose to purchase a cheaper house aren't as likely to patronize more expensive grocers like Whole Foods" and "I just don't think you guys like to spend money, and you don't seem to mind generic suburban stuff". Those three comments in your thread are NOT facts, they are opinons and are insulting. Unless you polled a majority of people out here, you can't just spurt out what we are thinking or why we live here. My home is not cheap, I shop at WF, and honestly I DON'T like living in the suburbs. I'm a total city girl and wish I lived there. If living in the suburbs means my husband is closer to work and my little one goes to a better school, than so be it. Dvlpr, I'm not trying to start a war, but it's not polite to start making comments or assumptions about people who live in a certain part of the city. There are plenty of people I know here who drive across town to lovely restaurants and shop in better food stores. We just wish we would get the same type of stuff on this side and amazingly, it would probably do well!

Guys, I just started this thread to let you know about the stupid suggestion thing for Whole Foods. Honestly, they probably aren't going to build a WF's here...it's just a fun thing. If they do, my opinion is they will put it in Stone Oak or the Rim as always. I hate having to argue my way out of a thread all of the time.

I'm not trying to start a war, either, but you seem to be taking this awfully personally.

The vast majority of the new home stock in this part of SA is what is referred to in the business as "entry level". I though about getting into specific price/absorption detail, but that would really be a waste of time for most on this board. If you'd like that info, you can PM me.

The fact is that this area is an entry-level submarket; the housing is cheap. I know people move out to that part of SA for different reasons (and your stated reason for choosing to live there is a very good one). But whatever the reason, they're choosing to spend less money on a home by living out there.

And please re-read my initial response: "I think it's reasonable to assume that people who choose to purchase a cheaper house aren't as likely to patronize more expensive grocers like Whole Foods." I didn't say people wouldn't shop at WF. I said it's reasonable to assume that they aren't as likely to.

[L3XVS]

Bottom line here is that, Whole Foods, or any other "aspirational brand" is going to conduct exhaustive research before they decide to open a grocer in a particular neighborhood. Whole Foods, has determined through their business plan and through demographic trends that their stores only work in areas deemed more affluent and educated - these are the places where people are more apt to spending a premium on organic food.

I mean, just look at their other locations...Plano, Highland Park, and Lakewood in Dallas and West University Place, Upper Kirby, and Sugarland in Houston. What do all these places have in common? They are generally upper-crust communities with residents who have the disposable income to afford the goods and services that Whole Foods provides.

It's the same reason you won't find a BMW or Lexus dealership in the middle of the ghetto - demographics. It's nothing personal, it's just the way business is conducted.

[TexasNick]

There is not a single WF store in the rio grande valley, which rivals the SA population. It definitely would not do good there. I do think the 1604/Alamo Ranch area would benefit from a store.

[Joer1622]

The cheapest home price in Alamo Ranch is about 160K+, going up to the mid 500K mark. with average being about 270K. now I know this is not a lot compared to much of the U.S. But for SA this is much more than many areas, so I don't know where some of the other numbers you are getting come from. Have you ever been to Alamo Ranch?

[TXRose]

But its not just about how much a home costs, its about how much disposable income the people that live in those homes have. My assumption (completely based on just living in SA for 20+ years) is that residents of AH generally have more disposable income to spend on luxuries, whether its clothing, trips, cars, or more expensive groceries. Its not an accident that Whole Foods and Central Market are both in 78209.

[adtobias]

500k is not a top tier area. now 1-5 million is aka Alamo Heights Dominion ect ect

[mojokitty]

This post makes me so much. If you don't live in this area, interact with people personally in this area, then you don't understand that we are begging for more than just fast food and chain restaurants! I am sick of driving across town to eat in a nice restaurant or go to Whole Foods or CM. Dvlpr, if you actually have any pull in developing areas, why can't you get more than this for this area. Residents are BEGGING for it. We need a change from what we have right now. Please, better stores, restaurants, a farmers market, more independently owned restaurants. Just more, we would patronize those places!!! Not to mention, why do you develop areas that you really feel so poorly about? I believe you are against suburban areas and prefer more urban areas...so...why the conflict in interest? Just wondering. I vote for the Alamo Ranch/Sea World area because I think it would draw people from the Bandera Rd/Culebra/Potranco area.

Also, I think it's funny that just because people buy a house in a certain "price range" this automatically means they have more or less disposable income. How do you know how much "disposable income" my husband and I have? Or my neighbors for that matter? Has it ever occurred to you that maybe there are a lot of military/ex-military in this area that don't want to blow a bunch of money on a house or don't need the extra space and actually enjoy living in an area that is free from ALL of that heavy traffic? Just throwing that out there for you. Again, not trying to start a war, just friendly debate.

[smuboy86]

I'll throw my two cents in. I doubt that whole foods will open another store in SA. They closed a store off I-10 when they opened the Quarry store. It seems that whole foods likes to go into established areas. They are opening a huge flagship in Dallas, not off in some far off suburb but inside the inner loop of Dallas. The idea of military shopping at whole foods is not the norm, why shop at whole foods when you have the commissary? I think it's also just a little bit audacious to complain that their aren't choices that you prefer in your neighborhood when you chose to move there. It's like those people that move next to the airport that complain about the noise.

[perticusrex]

Originally Posted by mojokitty

Also, I think it's funny that just because people buy a house in a certain "price range" this automatically means they have more or less disposable income. How do you know how much "disposable income" my husband and I have? Or my neighbors for that matter?

I am glad that you pointed that out. Not everyone who lives in a modest home is living paycheck to paycheck. Buying a home is personal decision based on many factors, and those factors are usually based on what is important to a person or family. (Status, affordability, comfort) I know several 30K millionaires living wayyyy over their head just trying to keep up with the '09-ers.

Warren Buffet still lives in the same house he bought in 1957 and I am pretty sure he has more disposable income than every single person who posts on here combined. Granted the guys house is still pretty nice, he could definitely upgrade ala Bill Gates if he wanted to. Just like plenty of people living in middle class areas could probably afford to live in McMansions but choose not too.

WTH... None of this has anything to do with the OT.... LOL