Almost everyone’s favorite organic food super store could be planting roots in Harlem. Blog Living Maxwell reports that Whole Foods co-CEO John Mackey spilled the beans yesterday during a talk at the supermarket’s Tribeca site. Apparently, he came right out and said, “We are going to be opening up in Harlem,” but then quickly back pedaled, saying “I shouldn’t have said that.” DNAinfo followed up with a spokesperson who confirmed the chain is “exploring the area” but nothing has been finalized.
As we’ve learned from Whole Foods’ previous attempts to expand to gentrifying neighborhoods, there is bound to be drama. The Harlem residents we spoke to are not happy that “more gentrifyers coming into the neighborhood moving out more mom and pops” shops. We’ll just have to wait and see.
What do you think, a good or bad idea?
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I think it’s a terrible idea. I am sick to death of what Harlem has become. I grew up there and my family left when things were really bad. I’d love to move back and make a good living but no way can I afford it. Whole Foods. Give me a break let the gentrifiers go to Tribeca for their food. Isn’t Fairway good enough?
I think it’s a great idea! New jobs and new healthy options for all. Healthy eating is not the domain of the “gentrifiers”, it’s something everyone should be concerned about, especially given the epidemic of diabetes and obesity in this neighborhood. The prices are not significantly different from other stores and anything that helps curb this food desert we live in is aces in my book.