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It’s been the dream of many ‘Burgers and today, we are learning that it may soon be a dream fulfilled with a new Whole Foods Market coming to downtown St. Petersburg. Sources close to the deal have informed iLovetheBurg.com, on the condition of anonymity, that Whole Foods is looking at the block between 3rd and 4th Avenues North, currently occupied by Synovus Bank (333 3rd Ave. N.)
Luciana Salamé, a representative of Whole Foods in Florida had no comment on the matter.
“The deal was largely contingent upon working out an arrangement to relocate the building’s current tenants,” the source said. “That hurdle has been cleared.”
The source went on to state that the current structure is likely to be demolished to make way for new construction with “plenty of parking.” Timing was unclear.
The move would easily make the Austin, Texas-based chain one of downtown St. Pete’s largest private sector employers, if not the largest, and is likely to mean big things for downtown property values.
Whole Foods was founded in Austin, Texas, by four local businesspeople who decided the natural foods industry was ready for a supermarket format. The original Whole Foods Market opened in 1980 with a staff of only 19 people and was an immediate success. The company currently operates 310 stores in the United States and United Kingdom, according to their website.
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