Whole Foods In Harbor East Moving To New Location
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Whole Foods expansion. The popular grocery store in Harbor East is launching a new flagship store. They'll be relocating and doubling in size.
Tracey Leong explains the bold new plan.
The Harbor East Whole Foods has been open since 2002. Now it's ready to expand. If you love that location, there's no need to worry. It's not moving too far.
Whole Foods on Fleet Street will be closing its doors to reopen on S. Central Avenue--less than a quarter mile away.
"The demand is really there for a bigger space," said Megan McCloskey, Harbor East Management Group.
It's a decision that's exciting to devoted customers.
"It's very cramped and crowded in here, so it's going to be really exciting. I know a lot of locals probably feel the same. Just glad to have more space, more offerings," said Bekah Walsh, customer.
Whole Foods has become a staple for people who frequent the Harbor East neighborhood.
"The quality of the food is great and the quantity. And it's fresh," said Chef Jay, customer.
"I come here every day for lunch," said Christos Kontogeorgakois, customer.
And it's that following that has inspired the company to cater to its clients' needs.
"Whole Food Market has been the heart of Harbor East since the neighborhood's inception," stated Harbor East Management Group President Tim O'Donald. "It is a testament to the community and to Baltimore as a whole that the company is committed to deepening its relationship with Harbor East and further investing in the City."
The new location will be right below luxury apartments. It's currently a parking lot. But soon, it will be bustling with 50,000 square feet of natural and organic products.
"Whole Foods is really America's healthiest grocery store and it really caters to that modern urban clientele who care a lot about themselves, who care a lot about their environment," said McCloskey.
An attractive neighborhood for professionals, Harbor East just keeps growing.
"It has transformed over the past ten plus years. There's growing businesses, office, tenants, residential components," McCloskey said.
Whole Foods is keeping up with the trend.
"Something local in the community. I like that I can walk here from my office," said Walsh.
There's no set date on when the new location will be opening, but Whole Foods says it will be in the next couple of years. Until then, the location on Fleet Street will remain open.
Nationwide, there are more than 400 stores and nine right here in Maryland.
