Er.. at least that was the news online. Here's a link to the store's description. Pretty ominous, (but magically Frankie's olive oil just won't go away!)
http://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/news/365-by-whole-foods-market-opens-in-silver-lake
Does anyone have info? Has anyone been to it already, or plan to go and check it out?
They are addicted to deals and gimmicks and no matter what they say about low prices...something has got to give. Once the crowds thin out they will have to bring on the promos, flash sales etc. Wall Street has already noticed that the company is not breaking out 365 profitability separately. Well if this going to save the company why are they not being transparent about it? Hmmmmmm
When our Whole Paycheck opened they were giving away Coho Salmon for $4.99 a pound and had a whole bunch of other ridiculous deals along with wine tastings and other freebies. Let's see how excited people are about weighing their own apples in 6 months. Plus this company LOVES gimmicks that PISS CUSTOMERS OFF because they can't execute or plan anything right. Compare to TJs which has actually has an everyday low price strategy that simply features certain items...And offers occasional one-off deals that excite people rather than disappointing them. All we need to know is the same clowns are in charge of this circus.
The whole thing is just a sideshow to divert attention from their inability to lead, inspire, execute or right size the company and make sense of this far-flung, 12-headed regional monstrosity. Obviously the investment needed to keep this technology functioning will be insurmountable. Also, the place was packed on day one because that's what they do on day one -- They will probably pour money into it because it's such a media circus there in LA but as these things roll out the resources required will overwhelm them and the deals won't be so good. The real test will come when TJs, Sprouts, Publix and Wegman's, Fresh Thyme, etc are all within a block of these joints. Till then...whatever.
And thus is the beginning of the end. If this concept actually succeeds (TJ's lite) then the WFM guest base will demand better prices since the ones promised at the layoff have not really been all that impressive. If it can be done with 365, surely it can be done with "Whole Paycheck" which means every store will become an even more bare bones shell of it's former glory. If the concept fails, well then it's not exactly the great Savior they hoped it would be (seems they are putting all their pasture feed, free range eggs in the 365 basket these days) and stock still continues to dwindle into nothingness leaving us no better for the experience.
In the opening pics I saw in my email today..it looked like a flea market. I don't think this "awesome new concept" is going to work at all.
It's being run by all the Chiefs from WF Austin. Some of the snootiest, self serving a holes that should all feel proud of the way they treat folks. Everyone and I do mean everyone, were all out in force today. Robb, DL, WP and all the rest, each one more expert than the next and the ones that make decisions or were hired/promoted to make decisions, couldn't lead, inspire or coordinate if their very jobs depended on it. Naturally there were many hardworking and solid TMs left to their own to figure it out and several did outstanding work today but there will be no recognition or rewards for them.