Why I'm more excited about Whole Foods than Wegman's

Before I get into a grocery store war (hey, that rhymes!), it's not that I am a die-hard fan of either one.  Honestly, I rarely go to Whole Foods and I've been to a Wegman's once in my whole life.

But I'm encouraged by Whole Foods looking at downtown Columbia.

Photo credit to the prodigal untitled13.

I know that that all supermarkets have their location requirements, and they have to whatever necessary to meet bottom lines and projections.  Vast amounts of parking, easy access to major roads, and good positioning are all prereqs.  They are seen as necessary for success for a lot of big box stores and who can blame them?  They have a formula and it works. Unfortunately, that formula leads to what we've got along, say, Snowden River Parkway-- a wide road with fast moving traffic lined with strip malls that are surrounded by massive parking lots. It's unsustainable, ugly, car-oriented-- and to that point, very unfriendly to anyone not in a car.

Whole Foods, however, is taking a different tack.  Per Wordbones at Tales of Two Cities, they are looking at opening a location at an existing, historic(ish) building in Town Center, an area that will hopefully take on a more urban, dense, walkable feel over the next decade or so-- pretty much the opposite of a strip mall.  (Though we do know that Town Center has plenty of parking.)

It's not unusual for Whole Foods-- they have been thriving in urban markets for a some time.  The Whole Foods in Baltimore's Harbor East always seems busy, and is an anchor of sorts for the neighborhood.  Residents (from all over, not just Harbor East) come by car, bike, bus, or on foot to pick up groceries.  Employees come to get lunch; they can take it back to the office or they might eat the outdoor seating or even benches on the harbor promenade along the water.

Whole Foods opened early in the whole Harbor East development timeline, and it's clearly paid off for them.  The area now boasts high-end shopping, trendy restaurants, expensive condos, and a vibrant, urban atmosphere.  Whole Foods benefits from and contributes to the success that Harbor East is.

So is Whole Foods interested in a similar approach here in Columbia?  Locating at the Rouse building would position them as an active participant in the revitalization of our downtown.

We'll see!