February 14, 2016
Whole Foods is testing a new concept of store, called 356 by Whole Foods Market, which will be smaller than its typical stores which average 30,000 square feet. The new smaller concept will be closer to 15,000 square feet, and will be making a debut in Gainesville, one of the first of thirteen cities who will get one of these new stores.
Whole Foods is an organic and natural foods supermarket, the largest and best-known in its category, and named by Fortune Magazine as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For for the past eighteen years. The company is launching this new lower-cost grocery option, which aims at appealing to younger shoppers, in an ideal target market like Gainesville.
Plans to open the 365 stores were announced last May, and plans to open the first store are slated for this May in Los Angeles. According to the chain’s quarterly earnings report that confirmed Gainesville’s lease agreement, the Gainesville store will be at Butler Town Center.
The new Butler Town Center is designed to be a walkable “main street” layout in the eastern-most part of the center, with large chains occupying Butler North. The exact location of the 365 by Whole Foods Market is still to be determined. In addition to 365, Butler Plaza will house even more grocery options including Aldi supermarket, Trader Joe’s, and two Publix supermarkets. Also moving in is Sam’s Club, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Orange Theory Fitness, Jimmy John’s and Jersey Mike’s Subs.
Gainesville residents now have even more grocery options to choose from, as if there were not enough already. With healthy, natural food trends dominating the industry and weighing heavily on young shoppers, this new Whole Foods concept will fit right in.
Keep an eye out for 365, and for more info, visit 365bywfm.com.
