Wayne Whole Foods Will Be Bigger Than Old A&P

WAYNE, NJ —The Whole Foods Market store being built on Valley Road will be bigger than initially expected. It will not only take over the former A&P it is replacing on Valley Road, but the former Subway restaurant next to it.

The inside of the store has been gutted and will be expanded and rebuilt to Whole Food Market Inc.'s specifications.

Township construction official Joe Albanese said officials are reviewing the work being done at the site. He said the store could potentially open next year.

"Once they get rolling with the work, it will probably be quick," Albanese said.

Whole Foods spokesperson Heather McCready said the company had no new information to share about the store "at this time" and would not provide a projected opening date.

The Board of Adjustment issued a demolition permit and approved the construction plan seven months ago in April and work quickly began. People reacted positively to the news of a Whole Foods finally coming to downtown Wayne after the approval and Mayor Chris Vergano announcing the move on Facebook. (See related: Whole Foods Opening In Wayne)

A Whole Foods spokesperson said in April that new store projects typically take a few years to develop as they "design each one to fit within its community." (See related: Wayne Whole Foods Store May Be 'Years' Away From Opening)

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Photo: A Whole Foods Market sign (By Joe Raedle/Getty Images)