Speculation about whether and when a Whole Foods might land on or near Capitol Hill is a favorite pastime of many dedicated Hillites tired of traveling to Logan Circle or Clarendon to get their [insert favorite fresh and organic items] fix. Trader Joe’s hope and speculation is just as high. For anyone keeping score, you’ll know that all four DC Whole Foods stores and both Trader Joe’s (one existing, one under construction) stores are in Northwest.
And while I don’t begrudge a private retailer’s decision-making process for where to locate — read: lots of stats and formulas about income, density, and location convenience — I think I stand with a fairly large portion of the Southeast, Southwest, and Northeast communities in thinking It’s. About. Dang. Time. For. Some. Stores. On. Our. Side… right?
- Harris Teeter is already under construction a few blocks away at 4th and M Streets SE in the Twelve12 mixed-use complex, and a new Safeway is located just a few blocks across South Capitol Street in the Southwest Waterfront neighborhood.
- Whole Foods has been interested in the Navy Yard neighborhood for a few years — famously almost coming to the adjacent Park Chelsea building until that deal fell through in 2011.
- This 36,000 square feet space isn’t likely to be a Trader Joe’s (typically between 10-15,000 square feet) or a Wegman’s (typically between 80-140,000 square feet). 36,000 square feet is the exact same size of the most recently completed DC Whole Foods store in GWU/Foggy Bottom.
- This proposal includes a “brew pub” — which is a recent feature of Whole Foods stores around the country. See “Whole Foods tests bars selling craft beer and local wine in its stores” and “Whole Foods in San Jose to include brewpub.”
- And last but not least, the “Market” signage shown in the renderings is a recognizable forest green.
Woo Hoo! Soon more people in DC can feel “special” and overspend for groceries at Whole Paycheck!
u r what u eat.
It’s not about feeling “special”– Whole Foods carries a lot of things that the Harris Teeter, Safeway, and even Yes Organic don’t. Especially fresh organic produce and gluten free items. You can’t determine it’s overspending if the other stores don’t have equivalent items to compare prices against. As the person below noted, a nearby Whole Foods would actually save a lot of people money because they wouldn’t have to travel to other locations.
Imagine the time & fuel I’ll save by not leaving the Hill. Keeping my fingers crossed.
I’d rather Trader Joe’s.