Comments on: Local: Is there REALLY a market for a health food grocery store?

By: Emtronics

Emtronics — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 20:22:50 +0000

I’ll bet people using Link cards would shop there.

By: Sam Bush

Sam Bush — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:06:38 +0000

It is a store for vegans and other upwardly mobile lifestyles. What a hoot! Most of the upwardlly mobile people I know eat lobster flown in fresh from Maine and very expensive steak washed down with excellent wine, French cognac or import beer. Why? Because they can afford it.

By: Ryan Johnson

Ryan Johnson — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 16:43:52 +0000

I don’t think a Whole Foods would survive anywhere in Peoria. There are a handful of people that would take advantage of it’s “healthier, organic” food, but for most people, it would be too expensive and not worth the price. Peoria isn’t a city that’s know for it’s health conscious population.

I’ve shopped at Whole Foods and Trader Joes and never been impressed. Of course, we always went for produce in the winter when you couldn’t get to a Farmer’s Market.

By: Chase Ingersoll

Chase Ingersoll — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 16:31:46 +0000

My office is next to Whole Foods. My wife and sister call it “whole paycheck” because that is what you will leave behind.

It is a “Starbucks” triple latte of a an “experience”. Yes, there is more of a healthy selection there, but it is the way in which the company has marketed itself as its way and purpose of doing business and the people that shop there, that feel that they have something in common in that way with the other consumers at the store.

It is upscale and elite. It is multicultural in the best senses of the word. It is a learning experience just to go through and brows the products. I can’t say the same for Kroger.

Two years ago I suggested that Khazzam bring one into Junction City. The demographics would work well there.

By: kohlrai

kohlrai — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 15:50:50 +0000

Whole Foods does sell meat. As for the upwardly mobile lifestyles – it certainly didn’t start that way. Wikipedia Whole Foods Market for the story – owners didn’t have a place to live so they lived at the store and bathed in the Hobart dishwasher.

When did the Adams Market bite the dust?

By: Eyebrows McGee

Eyebrows McGee — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 11:06:20 +0000

“vegans and other upwardly mobile lifestyles.”

Most amusing phrase of the week.

By: Billy Dennis

Billy Dennis — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 03:08:22 +0000

Well, we can always bus in southsiders to Whole Foods, if it ever locates in the Far North. I can just imagine the delight these folks will feel waiting in line behind someone whose using their food stamps.

By: Digger

Digger — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 03:02:22 +0000

To you aristocratic food people, is it okay with you we middle of the roaders shop at the new place?

By: ilstateredbird

ilstateredbird — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 02:58:17 +0000

Whole Foods is more of a shopping experience. It brings commodities that other stores would not. The population base on the North Side of Peoria could support a Whole Foods. It is a store for vegans and other upwardly mobile lifestyles. Most of the stores in the area are Meat and Potato stores.

The Schnucks with its nice deli and produce area made the other stores in the area step up their selection. The Whole Foods is full of varieties of produce and other items that we do not find in the normal groceries. In a recent visit to one there were 10 different soups available in the deli. The Deli, Seafood, and other departments are not like any of the local Groceries. The prices are not a bargain. But to get good food in this market you have to pay a good price.

The demographics of this type of store would place it in the North side of Peoria. I am sure a store of this caliber would do Market research for the right location.

By: Billy Dennis

Billy Dennis — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 02:28:22 +0000

Fair enough.

My interest in linking Whole Foods/Any health food store to the South Side is the fact that during the whole Abud/Adams Street Market debate is that many of those opposed did so because they thought they knew best what poor, ignorant folks down there should be allowed to buy. Yet there’s not much support for a HEALTH FOOD store on the South Side, either, because people who MIGHT want to shop at one don’t want to go to the South Side.