8:23 PM on Feb 12, 2014 CST
Whole Foods Market’s expansion plans now include Frisco.
The Austin-based organic grocer said Wednesday that it will anchor the retail section of a large mixed-use development planned at the southeast corner of the Dallas North Tollway and Lebanon Road in Frisco.
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The store, expected to open in fall 2015, will have about 45,000 square feet.
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Whole Foods plans to open three and possibly a fourth store in the area over the next two years, bringing its North Texas total to 12. It’s been actively opening and relocating stores here since the mid-2000s. Colleyville opens this summer, and Highland Village near Flower Mound will open in the fall.
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Next year, Whole Foods will open in Uptown on McKinney Avenue between Fairmount and Routh streets.
Whole Foods Southwest region president Mark Dixon said that as the grocer expands in North Texas, Frisco was chosen since it’s such a fast-growing area.
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Existing and proposed developments are competing for the retailer’s attention in Fort Worth.
“We absolutely intend to have a store within the city limits of Fort Worth,” said spokeswoman Karen Lukin.
Grocery store tenants are a hot commodity these days for developers. Most retailers are trying to figure out their future store needs, but food is different.
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In Frisco, Whole Foods will be in the Forum at Wade Park. Atlanta-based Thomas Land & Development LLC recently bought the land to build a 110-acre project. The Wade family of Frisco sold the land, which had been in the family for more than 100 years.
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The first phase will open in summer 2015. Wade Park will have about 600,000 square feet of high-end retail with up to 3 million square feet of office, 1,200 apartments and 127 single-family luxury homes with concierge services. The plans include a hotel.
The site is near the proposed headquarters and practice facilities for the Dallas Cowboys.
Thomas Land president Stan Thomas said Whole Foods is the first of many “premier” tenants he’s trying to attract.
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Follow Maria Halkias on Twitter at @MariaHalkias.
You know, I've got a knack for retail and real estate dynamics, and this Whole Foods expansion story is right up my alley. Whole Foods Market is making strategic moves in the North Texas region, and the evidence lies in the details.
First off, the location they've chosen—Frisco—is no random choice. This is a calculated move based on the city's rapid growth. Whole Foods Southwest region president Mark Dixon emphasizes Frisco's status as a fast-growing area, and you can see the foresight in their decision.
Now, let's delve into the specifics. The store, set to open in fall 2015, will anchor the retail section of a large mixed-use development called the Forum at Wade Park. This development, spanning 110 acres, is a brainchild of Atlanta-based Thomas Land & Development LLC. The first phase is slated to open in summer 2015, and it's no small venture—it boasts about 600,000 square feet of high-end retail, up to 3 million square feet of office space, 1,200 apartments, and 127 single-family luxury homes with concierge services. There's even a hotel in the plans.
This is a prime location, strategically positioned at the southeast corner of the Dallas North Tollway and Lebanon Road. It's not just any location; it's in proximity to the proposed headquarters and practice facilities for the Dallas Cowboys. Stan Thomas, the president of Thomas Land, is making a strong push to attract what he calls "premier" tenants, and Whole Foods is the pioneer in this regard.
Whole Foods doesn't plan to stop at Frisco; they have their eyes set on expanding further in North Texas. The article mentions plans to open three, possibly four, stores in the area over the next two years, bringing the total count to 12 in North Texas.
This isn't just about groceries; it's about Whole Foods strategically positioning itself in high-growth areas, aligning with ambitious real estate developments, and becoming a key player in the retail landscape. The evidence lies not just in their words but in the carefully chosen locations and the scale of the developments they're getting involved in. Now, that's a grocery game plan with some serious depth!
