Whole Foods Coming to Tacoma? ( 9. December 2006, 15:14 by Derek Young) ~ Organic Goodness
Bird to bird communication seems pretty efficient these days. A little bird happened by our window today with word that Whole Foods is apparently coming to a location near Cheney Stadium. According to our wee friend, the land has already been purchased and we should expect to see a store within two years. Will this rumor be true? We’ll see…
I know it isn’t downtown, but it’s a start.
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This is a rumor I welcome in my nest. It’s expensive, but the quality and selection is fit for a kingfisher. I don’t even know what that means.
There are many residents in the proposed area who probably can’t afford to shop at Whole Paycheck. — Jake de Paul
1 | Posted by Jake de Paul | Dec 9, 05:16 PM
I did a search of “Tacoma” and “Whole Foods” on google. Here’s what I got.
There’s also
Whole Foods Tacoma Park Food Coop
201Ethan Allen Avenue
Tacoma Park, MD 20912
800-626-9049
2 | Posted by Isaac Alexander | Dec 9, 05:46 PM
They are building some kind of retail structure near the corner of Tyler and Center just next to the Cheney stadium property. The land in that area is listed as “commercial vacant use” according to Pierce County’s GIS system.
3 | Posted by Broadweezy | Dec 9, 06:57 PM
Hmmm… at 131,524 square feet, the Lowes building would be about right for a Whole Foods… and isn’t Lowes building a new location out south of the mall?
5 | Posted by morgan | Dec 9, 07:56 PM
The recent 2006 Whole Foods (WFMI) openings have been 42-63K sq ft, so about half the interior size of Lowes. The new Tigard, OR store is 54K, and the Bellevue store is 56K (Jun 04). I’ve tracked this company’s stock for a few years now and got this data off their Corp. Investor Relations website spreadsheet which used to have planned stores on it, but no more.
I had thought the same name issue with the Whole Foods in UP would be a barrier to WFMI expansion into Pierce County, but I don’t know what the RCW says on that.
If this happens, it won’t be good for Tacoma Boys; despite having similar quality meats and vegetables at a better price, they aren’t one-stop shopping and don’t have the deli & prepared foods.
6 | Posted by Richard Gardner | Dec 10, 09:26 AM
Why there? Maybe they should redo their research…........as we continue to wait downtown for a store
7 | Posted by rich | Dec 10, 09:39 AM
ok, I have to say it makes no sense for whole foods…if you look at all the locations in Seattle, upscale areas….....cheney ….????? I don’t think so
8 | Posted by rich | Dec 10, 09:41 AM
Why there?
Retailers all have their equations for what makes a good store location. The two biggest factors seem to be access and demographics. So freeway access is big. Then the demographics of the folks within x miles around the location. Using this formula, downtown doesn’t have the density or the lots-of-disposable income demographics. Also, freeway access can be a bit awkward for an area like the Brewery district in south downtown. The areas off I-5 generally aren’t appealing in these computer models because of the demographics of East and South Tacoma. The Stadium District wouldn’t necessarily pencil out because of a lack of freeway visibility and because the demographic numbers would be all over the map. The North Tacoma commercial areas – other than Pearl Street – don’t have the freeway access or visibility. So if a big box store wanted to try Tacoma, the areas off 16 toward the west side of town appear to be the lowest risk for their investment. Freeway access. A relatively middle-class or better demographic.
My guess is that the first grocery store to go downtown will not be a major national chain with a corporate headquarters in some other part of the country.
You know, even Spokane has a “Pacific Place” known as River Park Square…..I wonder if we will ever get a clue in Tacoma…or will we continue to focus on the Mall which is a pain…I would rather drive to DT Seattle then go to Tacoma Mall…......It will be real interesting to see what happens with downtown tacoma in the next 5 years….if we continue to drag our feet on everything, I think people will loose faith and go elsewhere…..and the downtown will fade away once again….I just would love to see a sign that Tacoma will head in the right direction…but as of yet…..people we have plenty of condos…....and more condos….condo conversions…..and more condo conversions…..it’s time for Retail/Grocery/Commercial downtown….....with all of the condos on the market, the value of our condos will decrease until it is worth while to live downtown and to bring more people into downtown who are willing to pay higher for the condo…..right now, I see the prices for all these condos forcing the prices down because of the amount of inventory coming on the market….......
10 | Posted by rich | Dec 10, 12:54 PM
my message was cut off, I wasn’t done venting yet…..what is the council and development board doing to attract retail and a grocery (urban) store downtown??? do they have a clue?.....there is going to come a point where you need more than a couple of restuarants to attract people downtown…...the one grocery store that would be great downtown goes to an area with many other stores around…..get luck there…...
11 | Posted by rich | Dec 10, 12:58 PM
actually I meant to say, good luck there…not get luck there…..one last note…..I know it all takes time, but where is a viable short/mid/long term development plan that talks about all these things and that people are at least thinking of them on all the development boards and councils…...I seriously think their just taking it as it comes and are hoping for the best…..it’s seems to be developers that have the vision but not the development boards or councils…...we need a new direction with vision….
12 | Posted by rich | Dec 10, 01:02 PM
ok, I promise my last comment on the subject….PARKING......PARKING....that seems to be the most important thing on their minds…give me a break….at the rate we’re going, those parking spots, sure will be semi full during the week…..BUT TAKE A LOOK ON THE WEEKENDS AT HOW EMPTY THEY WILL BE…....get a clue…...get a bigger picture here and expand being PARKING.......
13 | Posted by rich | Dec 10, 01:04 PM
Ok, my hijack there is over…...until the next ridiculous news that I hear about downtown missing out…....sorry guys….
14 | Posted by rich | Dec 10, 01:05 PM
I just would love to see a sign that Tacoma will head in the right direction…but as of yet…..people we have plenty of condos…....and more condos
Yes, the theory is that increasing the number of people living downtown will create a market for retail.
Although there are a few condo projects underway in the central business district, we still have relatively few people living downtown on comparison to other cities.
My guess is that the first grocery store to go downtown will not be a major national chain with a corporate headquarters in some other part of the country.
I agree. In fact, the gourmet take out restaurant Capers is opening up a great new location on the far North end of Pacific Avenue across from the Old City Hall building. Small boutique retail.
I am sad to see Whole Foods landing in a sea of asphalt off the 16.
Increasing the density “condos, condos, condos” is a necessary component of successful development downtown.
Rich makes a good point that it’s time to “stop dragging our feet”. The Marcato master plan includes grocery and retail…it’s time to make it happen.
17 | Posted by stacy | Dec 11, 12:49 PM
Well, if Whole Foods is going for a semi-suburban, auto-centric setting, that leaves downtown ripe for the relatively local PCC to step in.
PCC can be reached at ceo @ pccsea.com and communityrelations @ pccsea.com in case anyone wants to lobby them to open a downtown Tacoma store.
18 | Posted by Michael | Dec 11, 03:24 PM
1) Sad maybe, but corporate retail will not appear downtown for a loonnggg, wayyyy lonng time (I say give it 2.5 more years at least).
2) PCC!! I would whole-heartedly rather welcome a grocery co-op with good stuff in downtown than corporate Whole Paycheck Foods (although yes, Whole Paycheck is good times too). Seriously though, the PCC in Fremont is decent because price-wise its comparable to Marlene’s, much cleaner, and ok I’ll say it, less-frightening staff.
19 | Posted by Broadweezy | Dec 11, 08:17 PM
1) Sad maybe, but corporate retail will not appear downtown for a loonnggg, wayyyy lonng time (I say give it 2.5 more years at least).
Or perhaps never.
Bellingham has a thriving downtown, almost no retail vacancy and enjoys a near year round permanent Farmers Market. Yet, I can’t think of any large corporate retailer downtown. I am not so sure we necessarily need them.
As for spuring more retail and more of anything downtown: the marketing folks are continually gauging the “market” in downtown Tacoma to see if and when they should dive in.
That’s why it is critical to promote and support businesses already established downtown and attend events downtown.
And without corporate retail people will continue to go to the mall.. They will continue spend outside of Tacoma and go to Southcenter, downtown Seattle, and shop online. Tax dollars and feet will continue to not be in downtown Tacoma.
Stacey I am thinking the Marcato should have a narrow pedestrian street/plaza full of retail! Mid to higher end. I can see it now!
Small biz is great but I think for a city and downtown our size you have to have some kind of national retail to get feet on the street. You have to think beyond where you yourself would shop and think where there general public would shop. It isn’t small biz in downtown Tacoma. It is the mall, downtown Seattle, and online.
21 | Posted by Jake | Dec 12, 09:44 AM
“Bellingham has a thriving downtown, almost no retail vacancy and enjoys a near year round permanent Farmers Market. Yet, I can’t think of any large corporate retailer downtown.”
Well, you’re correct in saying that there isn’t anything RIGHT downtown…but Haggen (the parent company of Top Food) has a location on the north end of Bellingham’s downtown. And then there are two locations—one south, and one east—within about a 2-minute drive from downtown. But Bellingham is a very different city from Tacoma…it’s much more compact, and it doesn’t take very long to get anywhere…so I don’t think it presents an accurate comparison.
I do, however, agree with you…I don’t think the presence of a large retailer is absolutely necessary…it would just, as Jake said, “get feet on the street”...and maybe pave the way for a more diverse selection of goods downtown.
22 | Posted by chad | Dec 12, 04:28 PM
Just feet on the street? I think we have banners downtown asking people to get feet on the street.
You have to think of those feet as hungry shoppers. They head downtown to pick up some slacks at the national retailer, and then get a bite to eat at one of are great restaurants, then after that they go look for that last minute gift at one our little shops.
Back to the Whole Foods….
I was telling Derek the area around Cheney Stadium is very limited land wise. There is a huge amount of land but most of it is public park land. I can only see 3 spots where a store could go. First is on the Jemstone LLC property at 19th and Proctor , the property at 15th and Orchard, and the Church property at South 25th and Orchard. All 3 properties would need to be rezoned from the current R2 zoning.
23 | Posted by Jake | Dec 12, 04:59 PM
The banners don’t do much if there isn’t any shopping…....why doens’t the city government offer some incentives to some of the national chains to take a chance on downtown. That would establish a trend with an increase in traffice hence allowing the other chains to see the need and to come DT also…..PLUS, the demand to live downtown would go up, then increasing the population then allowing more retail to see the need then allowing more restaurants to move in, then allowing more commercial to see that DT is the place to be, hence bringing in more jobs, hence causing a population boom in DT, hence creating more need for retail and restaurants, hence more need for condos…..a cycle that continuously supports each other…..but if we can’t get out of one area of the cycle, the cycle doesn’t move….....we need someone in the government to take a chance and actually make a good decision on how to spend some of our tax dollars…..we need to get the wheel greased…..just one man’s opinion…...see all of the businesses have their folks monitoring the progress of Tacoma until it reaches a certain point and certain dots are connected they won’t move….that’s when you need to come in with some really good incentives to get a few to come downtown and prematurely…......to take a chance…...I’m telling you, I can’t be the only one out there that would rather drive to downtown seattle then to go to Tacoma Mall…....much easier to go to downtown tacoma from the northside then to fight the traffic etc, at the mall…..
24 | Posted by Rich | Dec 13, 09:14 AM
Downtown does not exist in a vacuum- it is only as strong as the neighborhoods that surround it. While a few of our neighborhoods are doing pretty well (Stadium, Proctor, 6th Ave) many still need our attention.
Downtown would also be more appealing to retailers if it were connected to our neighborhood business districts via STREETCARS!
Commenting is closed for this article.
- Posted: 9. December 2006, 15:14
- Author: Derek Young
- Category:Rumor-and-Speculation
- Comment Status:Closed
