Whole Foods...When is big, just TOO big?
The 65,000-square-foot Whole Foods in Fairfax's East Market shopping center, opening Jan. 17, won't be like the others in the area.
The market will have five seating areas for five restaurant venues: seafood, BBQ, Asian, specialty sandwiches and Italian. There will also be a wine-tasting room for customers to try 80 wines by using a wine debit card the store will sell. - Washington Business Journal
Rumour has it that they will be setting up shop here in Santa Barbara and developing some monster store in the same vicinity as an Albertsons, Vons, Ralphs, Trader Joes and Gelsons. There's also a Farmer's Market on Saturday. All within one mile from each other. When does doing good by offering local and organic food become doing bad by not listening to what a neighborhood/city wants or needs.
Don't get me wrong. I really enjoy Whole Foods. They have done wonders in educating folks on the importance of organic, healthy eating, but come on. Are mega-energy sucking monster stores the way to go? Why not smaller stores...perhaps in areas of cities that have no access to fresh, organic, healthy foods.
