Whole Foods Picks Vernon Hills Over Lake Forest

Whole Foods Market is coming to Chicago’s upper North Shore, but will likely open in Vernon Hills rather than Lake Forest.

The city of Lake Forest announced Friday they learned of the company’s decision to pursue a location near several major retail centers in Vernon Hills earlier this week. The other option for the company was to open on the south side of Route 60 in Lake Forest’s Amberley Woods development, where the City Council endorsed a site plan which would have paved the way for the upscale grocer to open.

Read More: Groundwork Laid for Whole Foods To Open in Lake Forest

“Although the City is disappointed in Whole Foods’ decision, the City remains committed to working with the property owner of the Amberley Woods parcel to consider various development opportunities for the site,” according to the official statement. “The site is uniquely located near Conway Park, a premier office park; several high quality residential areas which offer a mix of housing types, parks and open space, and major transportation corridors.”

Whole Foods had previously planned to open elsewhere in Lake Forest in 2014, but dropped plans early this year when aldermen voiced some concerns related to the possibility.