Retail Roundup: Whole Foods appears to have passed up the Ivy Market site
The former Ukrops at Ivy Market. Roanoke Times file photo
Late last year, there was hope at Valley Bank that Whole Foods, an organic grocery store, would move into the old Ukrop’s building at Roanoke’s Ivy Market development.
The company sent a team to assess the Franklin Road site late last year and had been talking with the bank, which bought the property after it went into foreclosure.
But hope has faded.
“I would not be as optimistic about Whole Foods making a decision to move forward at this time,” said Valley Bank President and CEO Ellis Gutshall.
“It was a very good effort. As the bank and a property owner, we need to move forward.”
Roanoke-based Valley Bank is talking with several other interested potential tenants, which Gutshall would not name.
He said the bank would focus on grocer tenants until it had exhausted those options because the building was built for a grocery store.
Had Whole Foods decided to open at Ivy Market, the building would have had to be divided into two spaces, because it was too big for a Whole Foods in a market this size, Gutshall said.
The bank earlier this year demolished three vacant buildings on 5 acres near Ivy Market to prepare the land for phase two of the development. The activity has prompted calls from interested parties about those pad sites, Gutshall said.
Here’s a link to the Retail Roundup column, which also has updates on the cafe set to open soon at Sixteen West in downtown Roanoke, and vacancies at Valley View Mall.
What’s your reaction to the news that Whole Foods had been considering opening a store in Roanoke? Are you disappointed that the company appears to be looking elsewhere?
April 9, 2012 - 9:27 AM
I would love to have Whole Foods here in Roanoke. But I can understand why they wouldn’t want to locate in that particular complex. Besides the size issue, there’s the nearby direct competition (Fresh Market) and the fact that the complex seems to have trouble attracting and holding onto additional tenants to fill the rest of the space.
Has the bank been in touch with Harris Teeter? Trader Joe’s?
@david: They wouldn’t say who they are talking with now. I know they are looking hard at grocery stores because much of the infrastructure (such as the cooling systems for the freezers and refrigerators) for a grocery store still exists.
2 bad about whole foods although I would prefer a full grocer to shop at other then Kroger. Speaking of Kroger Amanda dod you ever talk to Kroger again about them taking the Uktops space?
Whole Foods needs to look at former Food Lion Store on 220. That would be about the right size and fit!
@Chris: I haven’t heard back from Kroger after leaving a message last week. Time to try again.
Thanks Amanda Keep me posted. Do you know if Whole Foods is considering any other sites in Roanoke or are they not interested in the Roanoke market at all.
I didn’t hear back from Whole Foods when I called last week (or when I called about a month ago), so it’s hard to say whether they are looking anywhere else in the area.
Roanoke can do much better than a Whole Foods anyway. Their products are way overpriced and quality is low. What is the big deal about that grocer?
I think the Ivy Market fiasco is doomed similar to the failed Keagy Village. It now has the reputation or image of a failed business. I think the building should be remodeled into something besides a grocer.
Jack Agreed. Whole foods ok but Fresh Market is the best. Really glad we have them. Just would be nice to have another grocer to give us some more selections!
I am disappointed, as Whole Foods was my second choice behind Trader Joes.
I would settle for a second location of Fresh Market. I am surprised dominant Kroger didn’t take over the Ivy Market site.
Jack. Kroger has gas pumps at the Towers location so they will probabily not be going to IVY MARKET.
Very Curious as to what business will land here. Do we need 3 grocery stores within walking distance? This is a fancy place for shopping.
They’re not going to open a Fresh Market in spitting distance from another Fresh Market. Trader Joes would be fantastic but I guess they’re not even giving Roanoke a look?
That location is terrible for a whole foods / trader joes. For anything really.
Trader Joes is coming soon to c’ville. Can’t wait. The walls are already up! IMAX Theater next door too!
What is so terrible about that location? It is in a great neighborhood/area South Roanoke, has underground parking, traffic lights and is not crowded like Towers and colonial ave??????
I think the location can actually become a prime shopping area for the South Roanoke neighborhoods. Ivy Market offers some great amenities, like the underground parking, traffic lights and like Chris wrote in comment 17, less of a crowd like Towers Mall and Colonial Ave area. One factor I see that ruins the upscale idea of Ivy Market is right across the street the buildings and businesses are run down looking and need to be improved upon. One side of the street has Ivy Market an upscale market and on the other side of the street looks run down, old and depressed. This being the entrance to heading downtown and the entrance to Roanoke’s upper class neighborhoods needs to be improved across the street from Ivy Market to be more believable of an upscale area. You can’t just build an Upscale shopping Market in a depressed run down area and let the rest of the area remain untouched.
right on Hans!!
My observation is that the small building directly across from IM has been substantially improved & refitted in a clean neat fashion. The rest of the building all have clean paint and although not the most up to date, should not be detracting from IM.
There’s only so much that can be done with shallow lots that back up to a mountain!
We need a TRADER JOE’S! They are a specialty grocery store with a feel that is very unique from The Fresh Market. While TFM has them beat on fresh produce and butcher selections, TJ’s has an excellent assortment of international foods, snacks, natural cosmetics and toiletries, and just a great, fun feel in general at much more affordable prices. They have been successful pretty much everywhere they’ve set up shop and I have no doubt Roanoke would instantly fall in love with them if they came here!
This is a fantastic grocery store.