Whole Foods Market in the US has announced that it will close nine stories as it struggles with on-going sluggish sales. The stores that Whole Foods will shutter are in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, New Mexico and Utah. Work continues here in South Bayview on the store which sits on the line between Leaside and Sherwood Park (Bayview and Broadway). This is known because workers can be seen during the day on the second level space which the store will occupy. There appears to be a mural installed which says “Leaside”.
HURTING AT THE CHECKOUT
The news from the US is proof positive of the grass-roots nature of the distress at WF which caused the delay of the 1860 Bayview store. All the talk of City of Toronto charges and the viability of the 1860 complex was uninformed distraction. WF is hurting where no business can afford to hurt — at the cash. Why? Many say the food is too expensive although that may not be an issue for many frankly affluent residents of Midtown Toronto. Others think organic and similar “purity” promotion is fictional. It may not be, but there is no uniform opinion on the subject.
When asked, an employee at the Yonge & Sheppard WF told me that the opening of the Leaside store will be April 21, 2017.