Where Would You Like to See a Whole Foods Market in Macomb?

There are currently five Whole Foods Markets in Michigan, but a growing group of Macomb County residents think it’s time No. 6 came to town.

Uniting in their love of all things natural, fresh and organic, the “Bring Whole Foods Market To Northern Macomb” Facebook page has grown to 482 fans since it was created in February of this year.

As its title suggests, the page’s sole purpose is to bring a Whole Foods Market to northern Macomb County by the sheer force of popular demand.

Unfortunately, demand is only one element considered on the decision-making end of corporate WFM.

“We do feel it’s important to the success of any new location that we know there’s a desire for our presence in a community,” said Public Relations Manager Kate Klotz, but the WFM Store Request page does receive thousands of requests on a regular basis. “They’re all taken into account, but it is only one of many, many factors we weigh when looking for new locations.”

According to the WFM website, a proposed location should also have:

• 200,000 people or more in a 20-minute drive time
• 25,000-50,000 square feet
• Large number of college-educated residents
• Abundant parking available for WFM’s exclusive use
• Stand alone preferred, would consider complementary
• Easy access from roadways, lighted intersection
• Excellent visibility, directly off of the street
• Must be located in a high traffic area (foot and/or vehicle)

While the level of a customer's education may seem an unnecessary detail for a grocery store, Klotz said, "We find that people with college educations are more aware of food issues, more sensitive to the origin of their food and generally more accepting of our high quality standards."

As for WFM'S other requirements, only one location really meets them in northern Macomb County, and that's Hall Road.

“It's such an obnoxious area to drive in, but it's a high traffic, high shopping area,” writes Kristen Kurze Woudstra on Facebook. “You'd think with Partridge Creek and Nino's over there WF would be fighting for retail space!”

Fellow Whole Foods fan Kathy Cox agrees.

“I think Hall Road in Macomb Twp would be far enough from the Rochester one and centrally located in Macomb County," Cox wrote.

Other locations suggested on the group's Facebook page include the corners of 23 Mile and Gratiot in Chesterfield and 21 Mile and Hayes between Shelby and Macomb townships.

While there is no plan at present to open a Whole Foods in Macomb County, Klotz said the company is “constantly looking for new locations, and Michigan is definitely an area of growth for Whole Foods Market.” The company next plans to open a store in Detroit, according the WFM website.

Klotz added that Whole Foods plans to double its number of stores in the Midwest in the next five years and “there is definitely a possibility that a store will open in Macomb County.”

In the meantime, Klotz said Whole Foods fans should continue to make requests on the company’s website, and “be patient.”

Macomb's closest Whole Foods location is Rochester Hills, at 2918 Walton Blvd.

Where would you like to see a Whole Foods in Macomb?

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