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Whole Foods official announces it's opening a store in Jamaica Plain

Neighbors,

According to the Boston Globe, it's official, Whole Foods announced toda that it plans to open a store in Jamaica Plain in the building currently occupied by Hi-Lo. Here are some quotes from the Globe Article:

“Whole Foods Market has been keenly interested in developing a Jamaica Plain location. We are now eager to become active members of such a strong, diverse neighborhood and to open a store that is reflective of the vibrant community,” Laura Derba, Whole Foods Market North Atlantic regional president, said in a statement.

"In keeping with the company’s mission, Whole Foods Market plans to source a wide variety of products that meet its strict quality standards as well as the diverse needs of their shoppers"

More info available on JP Patch.

LETS DISCUSS: What are your thoughts about this?

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Tags: 02130, Hi-lo, JP, Jamaica Plain, MA, Whole Foods

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Comment by Whit on January 19, 2011 at 4:37pm: This is great news! It is also an opportunity for someone else to fill the need for a store that sells the products that were sold by Hi-Lo in a smaller location and those places already have a toe-hold. That's the way it works--a big diseased tree falls so the little saplings can have sun light. Seriously, you're complaining about a grocery store moving in? I thought we were all concerned about food deserts and childhood obesity? I won't be able to afford to do all my shopping at Whole Foods but it will be great to have a place to pick up a few things. Traffic? Meh. Everything causes traffic if you're lame enough to have to drive everywhere.

Hi-Lo wasn't really for the people who are commenting on these comment threads. They made you feel like you lived in a "funky" neighborhood, and that isn't really enough of a reason for a business to exsist. All ya'll, a condo is in you future, so enjoy feeling morally superior while you still can. I remember it being kind of fun but also rather tiring and tiresome.

Comment by Sarah on January 19, 2011 at 4:32pm: I'm excited too, and just to be clear--there's not an either-or choice here. I shop at WF now, as well as at the Harvest, Cityfeed, an array of farmers markets, my local bodegas and the occasional long-distance trek to Russo's or the shops in Roslindale. I don't think most of us are one-stop shoppers and having WF there isn't going to change that. I think that other businesses will quickly step in to fill the niche that Hi-Lo's departure will leave open, but I also suspect that WF's appeal will be broader than some of you are assuming and that they will make an effort to serve the community where they' setting up shop.

Comment by Jennie P on January 19, 2011 at 4:25pm: @Amanda: Glad you are excited, it's nice to be excited about things. Until the Milky Way moved, I was there multiple nights weekly and I miss it dearly, especially its cultural diversity. But I have to ask: how are your many neighbors who live in Hyde Square (and have for many years) but cannot afford to shop at such an expensive market going to benefit? Or those who got all their food at Hi-Lo and will no longer be able to find those items in their neighborhood? There are better ways to "revive" a neighborhood than driving out cultures and/or income levels it can no longer support.

Comment by Jennie P on January 19, 2011 at 4:18pm: More like "products that meet the diverse needs of their incoming, white upper middle class, condo-buying, rent-increasing shoppers".

Comment by Amanda on January 19, 2011 at 4:18pm: Not going to lie...and feel like I am speaking for a silent majority, I'm super excited about it. Those of us that live near Hyde Square are really going to benefit from this. I hope this continues to revive our end of JP after the mass exodus ever since Milky Way shut down. I hope the hard core JP folk will be open-minded about it.

Comment by Stephanie Cardon on January 19, 2011 at 4:16pm: There is nothing "diverse" about Whole Foods. I am so disappointed! On the plus side, I think this will finally push me to join Harvest Co-Op or one of the great local CSAs or CSFs.

http://www.capeannfreshcatch.org/nov2010_deliveries.html

Comment by Elias Carlston on January 19, 2011 at 4:16pm: They better keep the mural! ;)

Comment by Raymond Santos on January 19, 2011 at 4:11pm: Sad to see the community loose Hi-Lo but Whole Foods, on the "whole" is a good fit for JP. I wonder the wisdom of such a high-profile store in such a small location. This is going to be a disaster, parking wise. Trader Joes in Brookline has the same problem.