Business & Tech
Why Won't Whole Foods Open In Wayne?
Whole Foods says it has looked at several locations in Wayne where a store could possibly go.
WAYNE, N.J. — The township has long been eyed as a possible landing spot for a new Whole Foods Market store, but, for a variety of reasons, the high-end grocery store chain has not come to Wayne — yet.
The company said that Wayne has long been on its radar as a possible development spot and that there has been a “pretty good buzz” about bringing a store here for several years.
“We’ve passed on various sites in Wayne over the years for various reasons,” said Michael Sinatra, public relations director for Whole Foods Market northeast region. “I think Wayne does make sense for a lot of reasons.”
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Sinatra said the company has examined a number of sites in town where a store might go, but, for “competitive reasons,” would not comment on exactly where.
The owner of Galreh LLC suggested at a recent Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting that one of the reasons the popular chain has not come to Wayne yet is because there are not enough “college-educated” people here.
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Galreh has an application before the board to develop a 10-acre property on Route 23 across from Wayne Lincoln Mercury. The company was in negotiations with Whole Foods for 18 to 24 months to try and bring a store to the site, but the deal was never completed. Instead, Galreh created the 12,800-square-foot retail space to Trader Joe’s specifications. There is already a Trader Joe’s in town on Hamburg Turnpike.
“To suggest that we wouldn’t come to Wayne because there aren’t enough college-educated people, nothing could be further from the truth,” Sinatra said. “That isn’t why we aren’t there”
Christina Minardi, Whole Foods’ regional president, is a Wayne resident
Sinatra said the company has heard from residents for a long time about wanting a store in Wayne, but there is already several in North Jersey — including Ridgewood, Paramus, Edgewater, and Montclair — people from Wayne and the surrounding area shop at regularly.
“If the right opportunity in Wayne came about, we would certainly jump on it,” Sinatra said.
Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com
Related: Trader Joe’s Luxury Apartments Could Go On Rote 23 Site
Patch file photo
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