The corner of the world where Lakewood, Rocky River, and Fairview Park collide will soon be the epicenter of all foodstuffs natural and organic. Whole Foods Market announced last week plans to open a store on Detroit Road in Rocky River come 2014. Another national natural chain, Earth Fare, opened just a skip down the road at Westgate in December, and a hop in the other direction is Nature’s Bin, Lakewood’s locally owned mainstay since 1975.
Earth Fare flacks declined comment on the impending showdown, and Whole Foods dodged a series of phone calls. But the folks over at Nature’s Bin have a few things on their minds.
“Whole Foods certainly represents competition,” says assistant executive director Mary Johnson. “We have a very loyal customer base here, and I think those folks will continue to support us.
“We aren’t just about food,” she adds. “Our mission is broader than that.” Indeed, Nature’s Bin has long served as a training site for challenged folks.
With just 8,000 square feet, Nature’s Bin’s sales have not dropped since Earth Fare — more than three times the size — came to town, Johnson says. When Whole Foods opens, it will boast almost five times the space. No word yet on Mustard Seed’s plans to join the party.
This article appears in Feb 22-28, 2012.
“for challenged folks?” I understand this is an editorial, but please learn that it is only takes a few more characters to write ‘people with disabilities.’
It’s stupid to glut the market with upscale food stores as Whole Foods is doing. There is a Heinen’s nearby, and Trader Joe’s at Crocker.
I live near Lakewood & have been a long time Nature’s Bin shopper although I have been to Earth Fare a few times. If Whole Foods would have come into my neighborhood & opened in the vacated Giant Eagle on West 117/Clifton area, maybe I would have considered it, but I would rather patronize the West Side Market & local independent grocery store owned by the local Hispanic, Asian & Arabic owners.
It’s just another chain store slicing up the market. Suburbanites can keep it all.
I like The Hunger Network on Madison Ave. They have home-made bread and local grown produce and they help people who have money problems survive…often people with children. All the uppiddy chains and such are all about money and market penetration and selling things at high margins. Kind of like buying your underwear at Victoria’s Secret and thinking your shit will smell better.
Not excited about the news at all. I am a bit tired of chain stores pushing their way into areas already well served by locally owned and operated stores. I will continue to support Nature’s Bin which I first went too when they had a tiny space on the other end of Lakewood 25 years ago. They have knowledgeable staff, great food and customer service and good prices. I like my dollars to support our community 100%. I will also continue to support the locally owned and operated Heinen’s – it is one of the few local chains around. Again I love the quality of the products they carry and love that they are always willing to help when I have a question.
All of us need to be 100% politically correct in every thing we say and do 100% of the time, all the time. If not, the world explodes and you kill everyone instantly. And you don’t want that on your conscience, do you?
On a side note, I’m really not into the whole health food scene. Speaking of food, I’m hungry. When’s lunch? I really want a sub.