Whole Foods coming to Downtown Tempe (Phoenix: price, shop, metro area)

[asufan]

Originally Posted by AZ_Rookie

I noticed Fry's is real popular out there... I'm not familiar - but apparently it will be my mainstay...

for anyone familiar with SoCal, what is Fry's comparable to? Ralphs/Albertsons I imagine?... I'll find out soon enough I guess, not many choices that I've seen...

Fry's = Ralph's, Safeway = Vons. The newer Fry's out here are the "Marketplace" variety which are larger and has a bank, Starbucks, large general merchandise areas and clothes. Nothing at all like the Ralphs back home in Mission Viejo (except the store brands and good prices). The Ralph's I was used to are sized more like Basha's, which is a local grocer based in Chandler.

[AZ_Rookie]

^^^ good info - thanks asufan

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by asufan

Like I said, it's a new more affordable concept, not the regular old whole foods you went into. I don't really have much need for them either, Fry's and Sprout's is enough for my needs

For that location and crowd, Whole Foods is a better option than Frys Whole Foods is an attraction and people eat there and engage in wine tasting and other events.

I'm not worried about this project coming to fruition. Usually the chains get built. It's the weird mom and pop and no name concepts that never get built.

[Maroon197]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

I'm not worried about this project coming to fruition. Usually the chains get built. It's the weird mom and pop and no name concepts that never get built.

This isn't the first time they have proposed a Whole Foods for downtown Tempe. I remember advertising signage all over the original lot/site back in 2008 or 2009 announcing that the whole foods would be coming soon. Then the recession hit, and the rest is history.

[asufan]

Originally Posted by Maroon197

This isn't the first time they have proposed a Whole Foods for downtown Tempe. I remember advertising signage all over the original lot/site back in 2008 or 2009 announcing that the whole foods would be coming soon. Then the recession hit, and the rest is history.

That was the Cosmo building and it was proposed as a "grocery store" without a tenant named. The whole foods was proposed several years ago however, for those that followed the Tempe development agenda. Capital intensive projects like this always take time and many times fail to finalize funding.

[Maroon197]

Originally Posted by asufan

That was the Cosmo building and it was proposed as a "grocery store" without a tenant named. The whole foods was proposed several years ago however, for those that followed the Tempe development agenda. Capital intensive projects like this always take time and many times fail to finalize funding.

No, I'm referring to the Mosaic project, which very specifically promised a whole foods. The chain link fence was literally wrapped in Whole Foods logos and "coming soon" signage back then.

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/n...s-planned.html

[RenW]

Here is a video of a 365 by Whole Foods

[cjseliga]

Originally Posted by exit2lef

365 is the name of the Whole Foods' store brand, and new stores operating under that name are supposed to be more affordable.

So basically Whole Foods is willfully admitting that they are overpriced and just gouging their customers?

[Prickly Pear]

Originally Posted by exit2lef

It's not mentioned in the article, but on his Facebook page, Tempe City Councilman Kolby Granville has made a passing comment that this would not be a traditional Whole Foods store, but instead a Whole Foods 365 store. 365 is the name of the Whole Foods' store brand, and new stores operating under that name are supposed to be more affordable.

Thank you for bringing this up. I was about to say how expensive Whole Foods was and that Sprouts would have been a better alternative. I have not heard of this branch of Whole Foods, is it legitimately affordable food? Or is it still expensive? College students still aren't rich as we all know.

[exit2lef]

Originally Posted by :-D

Thank you for bringing this up. I was about to say how expensive Whole Foods was and that Sprouts would have been a better alternative. I have not heard of this branch of Whole Foods, is it legitimately affordable food? Or is it still expensive? College students still aren't rich as we all know.

It's a new concept, so it's hard to say for sure, but when I go into a Whole Foods store, the first thing I look for are the 365 items. They're generally comparable in price to what I'd find next door at Trader Joe's. If the entire store is truly stocked with 365 private label items, it should be within the reach of more consumers.

Here's a comparison chart: