Raleigh City Council voted 7-1 this afternoon to approve the rezoning request for a North Raleigh development that will include a new Whole Foods Market store.
The 40,000-square-foot gourmet grocery store and an additional 17,000 square feet of other store space will be built near the intersection of Six Forks and Strickland roads.
Now that the rezoning approval has been granted, developers will still need to submit site plans to the city. Construction will take roughly 18 months.
All that means the store will likely open in late 2010.
The approval is a victory for North Raleigh residents who have been lobbying city officials to approve the development. So far, nearly 2,500 people have signed an online peitition at www.bringwholefoods.org.
The lone dissenting Council vote belonged to Councilman Thomas Crowder.
Comments
Re: Green light for Whole Foods...
March 19, 2009 - 9:09am — joshjenalexYou don't have to spend a lot of money at Whole Foods, although it isn't hard to do. The 365 brands are very reasonable, the bulk bins are great, and the quality is very good. I think of Fresh Market more as the place for gourmet foods, since while it's a fun place to shop, they don't have nearly as many lower-priced options.
I'm happy the big store is coming because the one on Ridge has outgrown itself. Just try going there at lunchtime or late weekend morning.
Re: Green light for Whole Foods...
March 18, 2009 - 8:55am — siglar34I like shopping at Whole Foods for their produce and their 365 brand. I find it less expensive than HT organic produce. I am very excited that it will be near my house.
Re: Green light for Whole Foods...
March 17, 2009 - 6:59pm — sunnysisDang ... I'm exactly in the middle of both! I was hoping one would be decidely closer.
Don't know if anyone has been the main Whole Foods in Austin - but does it ever rock!!! It has like 5 food bars inside; a huge chocolate counter with a ton of candy choices (this one sticks out the most), a wine tasting counter, a gellato food bar, a salad food bar, a cheese food bar, and I can't remember the others. But I was just blown away. I didn't want to leave.
Re: Green light for Whole Foods...
March 17, 2009 - 4:34pm — PowderedToastManWhole Foods is VERY overpriced. Sure they have a lot of gourmet foods, but you're a sucker if you spend that much money for it.
Re: Green light for Whole Foods...
March 17, 2009 - 4:27pm — TheLibertineIt's about time.
Of course, they should have built in Wake Forest where they could print money because there would be absolutely no competition.
Re: Green light for Whole Foods...
March 17, 2009 - 2:53pm — ShFrazierYay! I like Whole Foods, and I live in North Raleigh. I don't mind going to the Wade & Ridge Rd. location, but I depend on public transportation, and that's currently the only reason I have for going on that side of town, so trips there don't happen very often. I would patronize them much more than I currently do if they were closer.