One shopper compared the first day of the new Whole Foods Market in downtown San Diego to “an early Christmas.” Doors opened on September 23 to the 45,400-square-foot store at 201 West A Street.
Store Team Leader Mark Viehmann said he’s been hearing about anticipation of the opening from numerous members of the community and from tourists staying at downtown hotels. “It’s going to be great for the downtown San Diego community,” he said.
The new location, street level beneath The Torrey high-rise residences, will feature more than 1,500 local items from California-based suppliers, according to a company press release. Along with a variety of certified organic offerings, the store also has a coffee and juice bar, a specialty department dedicated to cheese, a seafood counter, prepared foods (including pizza by the slice), and a sushi venue.
There’s an upstairs lounge and underground parking with roughly 100 spots. The store is also a location for Amazon Returns.
The San Diego Sun found positive unanimity among shoppers who arrived at the new Whole Foods on the first morning. Many talked about disappointing shopping outings at downtown’s Ralphs and Albertsons, and the crowded space at the nearby Whole Foods in Hillcrest.
Suzy Cusmano has been staying in Little Italy for three months while renovating a home in Bay Park.
I’m so excited,” she said. “I came here to check it out on opening day and will come back later to shop. I like organic meats and vegetables and stuff like that. I’m four blocks away so I can walk or drive and park here if I have to get a lot of things.”
Cusmano usually shops at the Whole Foods in Hillcrest. “Sometimes I go to Vons but I prefer to come to Whole Foods. Since living in Little Italy I have been to Ralphs – not my favorite. A little rough on the outside, and crowded.”
Adam Stuart is a professional yacht chef who’s cooked on boats all over the world. He’s back visiting his mom, Judy, who lives in the Marina District. Stuart said his mom is excited for him to cook up some pork chops and Brussels sprouts for dinner tonight.
“I spend my life and make my living in grocery stores, and this one looks great,” Stuart said. “A high-end store with good ingredients. Downtown San Diego needed this store so badly. We were just disparaging the downtown Ralphs on our walk over here. That Ralphs is one of the worst grocery stores in the world.”
The new Whole Foods is on the way between her gym and her Marina District home, Paula Rivera said. “I usually go to Ralphs, which is a nightmare with all the homeless,” she said. “I’m so glad this store is open. I was waiting and counting down the days. Really, it feels like this is Christmas.”
Little Italy resident Luke St. Laurent is pleased to have a proximal alternative to Ralphs and Whole Foods in Hillcrest. He lives a stone’s throw from the new Whole Foods.
“I can walk to the grocery store and not have to find parking in Hillcrest, because it’s atrocious,” St. Laurent said. “It’s also kind of claustrophobic shopping [at the Hillcrest Whole Foods]. The new store has a very big, open layout, and prepared foods and a big cheese selection. Now, if I have guests coming over I can walk two blocks down the road.”
St. Laurant also says the produce available at Whole Foods is far superior than the selection at the downtown Ralphs or Albertsons in East Village.
Maxine Villanueva traveled from National City to check out the new Whole Foods.
“We have been looking forward to this store for a long time,” Villanueva said. “We’d rather travel here downtown than to Hillcrest for Whole Foods. Downtown used to have Jimbo’s but now it’s gone.”
Villanueva said when she does her grocery shopping at Whole Foods she takes advantage of the Amazon Prime discounts. “I save $50 to $60 dollars every time,” she said. “Not bad.”
North Park resident Deborah Probst said she has tried stores all over town and had been primarily shopping at the Hillcrest Whole Foods.
“I’m going to come to this new store forever now,” Probst said. “I’m over the moon. This is my favorite store. I like that it’s larger. There’s parking. I can tell the items are great. I’ll be here shopping for a couple hours.”
FYI: There’s a 90-minute limit on the underground parking spots. SDSun
