Students taking classes at cooking schools in Colorado certainly don’t have any shortage of locations from which to source their fresh and local ingredients. The state has become known for its nature as a foodie-friendly destination, and Denver residents will soon have even more to evidence this. According to Tribune Affiliate KWGN, the popular organic grocery store Whole Foods has recently announced plans to open a flagship store in the Mile-High City in 2017. While the opening of the grocer is still a considerable distance in the future, excitement is already mounting among residents. Take a look at some of the details released by Whole Foods:
The store
The newest Whole Foods location will seek to capitalize on the popularity and expected foot traffic that will be seen by Denver’s revitalized Union Station. Located in the heart of downtown, the station will be a popular destination for residents and travelers alike. The location for the newest store is certainly prime, as it will be built near the corner of 17th and Wewatta streets. That corner will also play host to several other businesses and a number of new residential apartment buildings, creating an instant customer base for the store. Peter Petricca, who serves as senior development director of the Holland Partner Group, one of the organizations leading the new project, expressed his excitement in working with Whole Foods to the Denver Business Journal:
“We believe the addition of Whole Foods Market to our development raises the bar on quality living downtown and is a game-changer for the city of Denver,” Petricca said. “We are excited by Whole Foods’ commitment to build a flagship store, which mirrors our commitment to build a premier, high-rise living environment for individuals seeking a dynamic urban lifestyle.”
In order to accommodate a considerable amount of foot traffic and customer engagement at any one point, the store is expected to occupy more than 56,000 square feet and also have an underground parking garage connected to it.
Whole Foods Market announcement
The announcement from the organic grocery chain came during the company’s annual earnings call. While the expansion seems a natural enough fit, it comes at a critical time for the company. As The New York Times has already indicated, the grocer is facing a rapid expansion of competition in the organic food sector and has suffered from customers reporting that their prices have been inflated. In response to this, the company announced a brand new marketing campaign in October. The initiative, which is the first such effort in the history of the company, will center on the phrase “Values Matter” and has been reported to focus on younger Americans with disposable income. With this information, it seems very clear that opening this new flagship Denver location in an area where high-rise, luxury apartments and condominiums will soon be erected makes a great deal of sense. While only time will tell how successful the store will be in the competitive Denver market, it’s certainly positioned to do well.
