Gowanus: Get Ready For Some Whole Foods

Whole Foods' on-again/off-again relationship with Gowanus is on again! The grocery store has officially declared that they'll be moving into the neighborhood, Superfund be damned. According to a letter Brownstoner posted, here's what locals can expect when the 52,000-square-foot shop sets up at the corner of 3rd Street and 3rd Avenue:

Our planned new store will be approx. 52,000 square feet, which is about 25% smaller than the store we had previously proposed for this site. We believe this site plan—which continues to feature a 40 foot public esplanade for our neighbors to enjoy—will simply work better within the parameters of the property.
We have reduced the number of parking spaces on-site from 430 to 248, which eliminates our previous need for a separate parking structure and allows all of the parking to be at-grade in a surface parking lot. The store will feature parking for both energy efficient vehicles as well as specially designated recharging stations for electric powered vehicles. The lot will also include bike parking in front of the store and along the promenade. Whole Foods Market will also offer delivery for area residents.

With parking now no longer needed on the store roof either, we have been presented with the opportunity to include one of the most exciting and innovative features ever included in a Whole Foods Market: A 20,000 square foot greenhouse located on the roof of the store that will grow fresh, organic produce right on-site!

Can't wait to stroll along the Superfund site promenade with an overpriced organic juice and some butt-meat (hold the cheddar).

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By Jen Carlson in News on November 29, 2010 4:29 PM

Comments [rss]

squatch

TJ's can never be your only market. they just don't have enough variety and i think that their produce is incredibly disappointing. plus, the crowds there almost never justify the trip. WF's clientele is 37% more annoying that TJ's and WF's prices are higher. you can never get in and out of the place easily either. i have to REALLY want something specifically available at either place to ever go there (like TJ's tasty holiday coffees). shopping at TJ's or WF's is like combat.

fairway is pretty damn full-service and the prices are good. parking is much more civilized than at the the brooklyn TJ's too, and since i shop only about once a week and use a car to haul all of the stuff, parking is important.

some places just aren't worth the hassle for a couple of items...

XxSuntoucherxX

Whole Foods, Union Market, Fairway or Trader Joe's. Well, Union market is far too expensive to that's out. Whole Foods will be and Fairway is about equidistant from me, however, Fairway is easier to get to, unless I'm walking then it's through the projects. Trader Joe's, is only fun during the week day mornings, but it's necessary. Hmmmm, I need a tie breaker here. Stew Leonard's anyone?

PKMKII

Screw Whole Foods, I want a Wegmans in Brooklyn.

OSN!

WF is RIDICULOUSLY over-priced, period. Full stop.

Have a nice day.

Rocknrope

Someone enlighten me - what is worth getting at WF that I cannot get at either Trader Joe's or Fairway?

eflash

Whole Foods is pretty different from TJ's, but since you've got a Fairway this should add pretty much nothing...

Tower18

Many things are overpriced at WF, but many things are not.

You can say the same about Fairway, but now at least people don't need to make the epic pilgrimage to Red Hook to do their shopping.