Thursday, February 9, 2012

Keep Hope Alive For Whole Foods In Columbia

Whole Foods released its first quarter results yesterday, and the press release announced their new leases -- none in Maryland, definitely none in Columbia.

I was bummed, but Wordbones pulled me out of the funk today by posting about unusual signs going up on the site of the Howard Hughes Building near the Columbia Mall.  That's an office building now, but it's the site that Wordbones has said is under negotiation to become a Whole Foods.

The signs -- in green and white that look like Whole Foods' colors -- say "Organic," "Natural," "Local," "Value" and other words right out of the grocers' playbook.  It certainly looks to me like a landlord showing a tenant how great the building could look converted to a grocery store, and a Howard Hughes executive released a statement to Wordbones that says in part:
“The banners attempt to demonstrate the potential for alternative uses for the building and its associated parking areas beyond simply an office use . . . 
Keep hope alive.  Read the Tales of Two cities post to see the signs and read the rest.

4 comments:

neurodiv said...

We want Fresh Market!

Vicky said...

It always surprises me that Columbia doesn't have a Whole Foods - its not lack of demand!

Anonymous said...

I thought this was a done deal! So disappointed to hear it's not happening.

S. said...

Don't know if it's related or not, but there were some huge green & white banners up in the Mall this weekend (Feb 12,2012) which said "Health food is a right. Join us in supporting the Access to Healthy Food Initiative in Howard County." alongside a photo of some county execs. The United Way logo was at the bottom.