Whole Foods Market Closing Sunday, Cheaper Alternative Opens

SANTA MONICA, CA – The Whole Foods Market on the corner of Fifth Street and Wilshire Boulevard will close on Sunday. A manager told Santa Monica Observer that almost all of the employees who wish to continue working for Whole Foods Market have been given positions at other local Whole Foods stores.

A more affordable Whole Foods alternative called 365 by Whole Foods Market will be opening in Santa Monica August 9, according to the 365 by Whole Foods Market Facebook page. The store will be on the corner of Pico Boulevard and Cloverfield Boulevard, two and a half miles away from the Whole Foods Market that's closing.

However, those living in Santa Monica don't seem to be too happy about the store closing. When a local resident posted about the news in a Santa Monica Facebook group, group member Christopher Otazo commented, "That's my closest option. Damn. It's always packed, too." Other comments included:

"So sad.. what will replace it?"

"The parking probably wouldn't be sufficient to support it, but wouldn't it be wonderful if it were replaced with a Trader Joes."

"I'm so sorry this is closing, it is always full of patrons and so accessible to foot traffic and locals."

"That would be another option, although TJ doesn't tend to have as much organic, which is what makes WF so important, nor bulk and prepared foods. It would be ideal if the very employees who work there now and know how to make it run smoothly would come together and form their own cooperative. Maybe they just need someone to assess and encourage them."

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