Whole Foods CEO tells Bloomberg new Detroit store 'exceeding our wildest expectations'

[NOLA101]

Originally Posted by belleislerunner

What basis do you have to base your doubt?

Because Whole Foods doesn't release sales figures by store, and because Whole Foods received millions in subsidies for opening the store.

And the store is the smallest in the chain, and has plenty of room for expansion, so if the store is really doing well, then why not expand? They don't even have extensive hours in this specific store; why not keep the store open later and open earlier, like other WF, if it's so successful?

Originally Posted by belleislerunner

Hence the desire for a second Detroit store. You can rest assured that store will be full size - because they realize how wrong they were in sales expectations.

LOL! There will be no second Detroit store, unless the city ponies up many millions for another store.

There isn't even a market for this one store, it only exists because the city bribed WF to open, and then WF can brag about how it's "giving back" by opening stores in poor, underserved communities, even though the store is basically on the Wayne State campus, and doesn't serve anyone except for Wayne affiliated commuters going to their freeway exit.

[NOLA101]

Originally Posted by usroute10

People, NOLA101 who doesn't live here, is always, and ONLY, negative, negative, negative in regards to the city of Detroit.

NOLA101, instead of giving more uninformed opinion, next time you are visiting your family in the metro area, stop in to the store and see for yourself.

I love this response, as it's so ignorant on so many levels. So I should follow your advice and ignore actual sales figures, instead I should just show up to a store and I will magically be able to figure whether or not its profitable based on some sort of clairvoyance that is apparently only possessed by Detroit-residing city boosters.

And, yeah, if I don't live in a city, I'm unable to understand a profit report. But if I did live in a city, then suddenly I would become a financial genius, apparently. Who knew?

I have been to the Wayne WF and it is hardly busy. I doubt it makes money, but it has nothing to do with my visits to the store, it's based on real world knowledge. WF demanded (and received) millions in subsidies, WF has limited hours, and it's the smallest store in the chain, with no plans for expansion. WF's actions speak much louder than its words. It's actions demonstrate that Detroit is not a viable market.

[belleislerunner]

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.

[MS313]

Originally Posted by NOLA101

I love this response, as it's so ignorant on so many levels. So I should follow your advice and ignore actual sales figures, instead I should just show up to a store and I will magically be able to figure whether or not its profitable based on some sort of clairvoyance that is apparently only possessed by Detroit-residing city boosters.

And, yeah, if I don't live in a city, I'm unable to understand a profit report. But if I did live in a city, then suddenly I would become a financial genius, apparently. Who knew?

I have been to the Wayne WF and it is hardly busy. I doubt it makes money, but it has nothing to do with my visits to the store, it's based on real world knowledge. WF demanded (and received) millions in subsidies, WF has limited hours, and it's the smallest store in the chain, with no plans for expansion. WF's actions speak much louder than its words. It's actions demonstrate that Detroit is not a viable market.

Detroit is not a valuable market for a grocery store but Meijer just opened up it's second location and already talking about putting another up between downtown and Grosse Pointe? yeah, doesn't add up.

I also find it funny that you are the only one on this thread saying that Midtown Whole Foods is hardly ever busy despite people who live here and more than likely visited the store more times than you saying it is busy. Everytime I tried to go just because I was in Midtown I decided not to just because the parking lot was packed and I didn't have time to deal with crowds.

But tell us more about this profit report, because apparently you know something we don't. And I'm still confused, what motive would they have for lying about how well their store is doing?

[Cliffie]

Originally Posted by MS313

But tell us more about this profit report, because apparently you know something we don't. And I'm still confused, what motive would they have for lying about how well their store is doing?

It's obviously a conspiracy geared to attract more business to the metro area -- and why stop with chain stores like Meijer's and 'Whole Paycheck Foods'? Why not independent startups too? Next thing you know we'll also have clothing stores, electronics stores, hardware outlets, factories, restaurants -- almost as if people lived there who needed goods, services and jobs to make their lives work! The horror!

[belleislerunner]

As an aside, your parking is validated for free in the attached parking garage next to Whole Foods - so there's never an excuse not to go.

[usroute10]

Originally Posted by NOLA101

I love this response, as it's so ignorant on so many levels. So I should follow your advice and ignore actual sales figures, instead I should just show up to a store and I will magically be able to figure whether or not its profitable based on some sort of clairvoyance that is apparently only possessed by Detroit-residing city boosters.

And, yeah, if I don't live in a city, I'm unable to understand a profit report. But if I did live in a city, then suddenly I would become a financial genius, apparently. Who knew?

I have been to the Wayne WF and it is hardly busy. I doubt it makes money, but it has nothing to do with my visits to the store, it's based on real world knowledge. WF demanded (and received) millions in subsidies, WF has limited hours, and it's the smallest store in the chain, with no plans for expansion. WF's actions speak much louder than its words.It's actions demonstrate that Detroit is not a viable market.

-The store is open from 8 am to 10 pm everyday - that's regular grocery hours.
-The store is on a small, tight footprint, at the corner of two streets, so it cannot expand unless it wants to expand into its already too small parking lot


You keep calling it the Wayne State Whole Foods, but the heart of Wayne State is A HALF MILE AWAY at Woodward and Warren/Cass Avenue. The Whole Foods is right next to the Detroit Medical Center.
There are no WSU academic buildings around there except for some medical school ones.

Moderator cut: too personal, please calm down

[brodie734]

Meh, I think it's hard to say that the Whole Foods doesn't cater to WSU students and workers in large part. Half a mile is really nothing at all.