Whole Foods in West Valley

[kttam186290]

Whole Foods uses the educational level of a particular area as a metric. I know this because one of my neighbors is a higher-level employee for the chain.

In other words, a given area has to have a certain threshold of people who hold bachelor's degrees and master's degrees.

And, if you think about why they're putting one in Tempe (ASU) and nowhere else, for now, then it starts to make sense.

[KurtAZ]

Originally Posted by kttam186290

Whole Foods uses the educational level of a particular area as a metric. I know this because one of my neighbors is a higher-level employee for the chain.

In other words, a given area has to have a certain threshold of people who hold bachelor's degrees and master's degrees.

And, if you think about why they're putting one in Tempe (ASU) and nowhere else, for now, then it starts to make sense.

Well...there is one in PV (Tatum and Shea), One in N Scottsdale, one in Biltmore, one in Tempe and one in Chandler. So I wouldn't say "nowhere else" exactly.

[kttam186290]

Originally Posted by KurtAZ

Well...there is one in PV (Tatum and Shea), One in N Scottsdale, one in Biltmore, one in Tempe and one in Chandler. So I wouldn't say "nowhere else" exactly.

It makes sense to have a Whole Foods in all of those areas due to demographics. They want a minimum 25% rate of people holding a bachelor's degree. Tempe, Biltmore, N. Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and I guess Chandler, all meet that threshold.

You probably won't see one in Buckeye, Apache Junction, Tolleson or San Tan Valley in the near future, however.

[KurtAZ]

Originally Posted by kttam186290

It makes sense to have a Whole Foods in all of those areas due to demographics. They want a minimum 25% rate of people holding a bachelor's degree. Tempe, Biltmore, N. Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and I guess Chandler, all meet that threshold.

You probably won't see one in Buckeye, Apache Junction, Tolleson or San Tan Valley in the near future, however.

That's funny..."I guess Chandler"...the tech center of the valley...

[PhoenixSomeday]

Haha, yeah. Ocotillo area of Chandler. Intel building right there. But I'm sure the store at Ray and 101 is counted as serving Chandler.

[JGMotorsport64]

The only area in the WV that would make sense is Arrowhead Ranch but it’s not big enough and is already saturated. One of the big problems for the WV is a lack of young college educated professionals which is Whole Foods’ target demo. A lot of the WV is working class, blue collar, or retired. Those demos are better served by Food City through Frys.

[grmi66]

Originally Posted by JGMotorsport64

The only area in the WV that would make sense is Arrowhead Ranch but it’s not big enough and is already saturated. One of the big problems for the WV is a lack of young college educated professionals which is Whole Foods’ target demo. A lot of the WV is working class, blue collar, or retired. Those demos are better served by Food City through Frys.

Plus don't know if still the case, but a few years back the Arrowhead area had the second highest concentration of actual millionaires in the valley. But for the most part, they were not college educated. I knew a lot of well to do contractors who lived near Arrowhead that owned an HVAC or plumbing business. So these guys had money, but were spending it on pizza, beer and grown up toys.

[asufan]

Originally Posted by grmi66

Plus don't know if still the case, but a few years back the Arrowhead area had the second highest concentration of actual millionaires in the valley. But for the most part, they were not college educated. I knew a lot of well to do contractors who lived near Arrowhead that owned an HVAC or plumbing business. So these guys had money, but were spending it on pizza, beer and grown up toys.

You're referring to a news article that is now about 20 years old and it was a specific (large) zip code in North Glendale that I believe has split. Not sure if this is still the case or not. Anyway they have AJ's Fine Foods and Sprouts, not sure there's enough market share for Whole Foods as well

[wase4711]

Originally Posted by grmi66

So these guys had money, but were spending it on pizza, beer and grown up toys.

And, that's a Bad thing???

[grmi66]

Originally Posted by wase4711

And, that's a Bad thing???

Not at all...