Central Market and Whole Foods open more stores in DFW

Corinth940 · #1 Posted: **Dec 6, 2006, 5:11 PM**

Central Market, Whole Foods open trial stores today

08:27 AM CST on Wednesday, December 6, 2006

By MARIA HALKIAS / The Dallas Morning News

Two of the most closely watched U.S. specialty food chains – both with roots deep in the heart of Texas – are putting their faith in Dallas-area residents to help them define their next steps in food retailing.

Competitors known for their innovations, Whole Foods Market Inc. and H.E. Butt Grocery Co.'s Central Market swear it's just a coincidence that they're each opening their chain's next-generation stores in D-FW today. In Southlake, shoppers will help Central Market decide if it's landed on the right suburban concept to make the leap outside of Texas.

In Dallas, the new Whole Foods at Preston Road and Forest Lane will help the Austin-based chain decide if it's going to become a major spa operator.

"This is our only spa, and no other spa has someone doing your grocery shopping for you while you're getting a spa treatment," said Nona Evans, Whole Foods' marketing director.

Central Market has heard visitors asking for a store in major cities on the East and West coasts and in Chicago, said Stephen Butt, head of San Antonio-based H-E-B's Central Market division, which is headquartered in Dallas.

"We find that very encouraging because there are a limited number of Central Market stores that we can build in Texas cities," Mr. Butt said.

"And the Plano, and now the Southlake, shoppers will help us grow beyond the urban parts of larger cities."

One way it's testing that is with a Central Market Café that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with outdoor seating for 200, a stage for entertainment and a playground with a castle and a friendly dragon.

That doesn't mean the Dallas area is a mature market for either chain.

Mr. Butt said that it's still a growth region for Central Market and that he envisions a fifth and maybe a sixth store in the area.

Whole Foods has an 80,000-square-foot store – which would be its largest – planned for 2008 at Park Lane and Central Expressway. A 50,000-square-foot store is also planned for the Dallas area, but no location or date has been specified.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...s.301c46e.html

BG918 · #2 Posted: **Dec 7, 2006, 8:54 AM**

Hey Whole Foods and Central Market, come to Oklahoma!

rad707 · #3 Posted: **Dec 7, 2006, 2:54 PM**

why one of them won't jump to downtown dumbfounds me. yes, the population is low right now, but whole foods will cater to office workers who could buy their groceries after work and bring them home to areas of the city that only have the options of albertsons and randalls.

in addition, whole foods/central market could cater to the lunch crowd with prep food similar to the one in austin - prep food makes a killing at $8 lb. for a salad bar.

Nitsua0491 · #4 Posted: **Dec 8, 2006, 12:53 AM**

Probably because land is so expensive and why would someone shop in downtown after work then they can go to a cheaper grocery store that is open 24h closer to their homes in the suburbs?

I'm just being the devils advocate. I love having whole foods and central market close to me.

Major AWACS · #5 Posted: **Dec 8, 2006, 7:48 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BG918

Hey Whole Foods and Central Market, come to Oklahoma!

If Oklahoma would change their archaic liquor laws then you would see Central Market ASAP, until then highly doubtful. HEB makes a nice sum off of (real) beer and wine sales. No wine for sale in OK- no Central Market.

Ciao, and Hook 'em Horns,
Capt-AWACS, Yankee Air Pirate

LouisianaRush · #6 Posted: **Dec 8, 2006, 7:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt AWACS

If Oklahoma would change their archaic liquor laws then you would see Central Market ASAP, until then highly doubtful. HEB makes a nice sum off of (real) beer and wine sales. No wine for sale in OK- no Central Market.

Ciao, and Hook 'em Horns,
Capt-AWACS, Yankee Air Pirate

Wow, and I thought Texas’ liquor laws were backwards and antiquated. That is pretty strict.

SSLL · #7 Posted: **Dec 9, 2006, 1:47 AM**

Spa?

BG918 · #8 Posted: **Dec 11, 2006, 2:44 AM**

Hopefully the state question to allow 3.2+ beer and wine sales in grocery stores/convenience stores makes it to the ballot in 2008 and then stores like Central Market and Whole Foods will make their way north. Of course the liquor stores here (and there are lots of them) will try their hardest to stop this measure. Kansas recently liberalized their liquor laws, Oklahoma should do the same.