May 12, 2008
The Food War Comes to Richmond — Whole Foods vs. Ukrops vs. Trader Joes
We’ve been talking about Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods Market coming to Short Pump since way back in November. Well, my friend from journalism school back at VCU, Jack Cooksey, over at Richmond Magazine picked up the story and has done a great job on the Grocery Wars and what these changes will mean to Ukrop’s and the rest of the Richmond grocery market.
Within the next two years, supermarkets around the region will launch an onslaught of changes. In an age when shoppers have more choices than time, the list of new developments is so extensive, it’s enough to make the Pillsbury doughboy’s head spin off.
The list includes no fewer than seven new grocery stores, at least three store expansions and a wave of remodeling projects.
The region’s big “gets” — in the opinion of many foodies — are the two major chains coming to Henrico County’s retail mecca, Short Pump. By 2009, Whole Foods Market plans to open a 35,000-square-foot store in West Broad Village, and Trader Joe’s is expected to arrive later this year with a 12,500-square-foot store in the adjacent Short Pump Station.
By November, Greensboro, N.C.-based grocer The Fresh Market expects to open its second store in the region on Huguenot Road, in space formerly occupied by a Barnes & Noble near Midlothian Turnpike.
Check out the whole story for some good reading on Richmond’s food industry about to change. I also really like the price comparison snapshot feature, so one can all see an example of price differences at the local stores.
Since Ukrops moved out I’ve been hoping one of the major gourmet retailers would move in. If they were open 7 days a week and sold beer and wine I am convinced they would make money. I am pulling for Trader Joe’s, just so Foodie would shop there.
Not on major retailers but have any NWE’ers been to the Lakeside Farmers market yet? My wife and I moved from NoVa two years ago and had gone to 17th St on Thursday am’s but last year switched to Byrd House (Oregon Hill)when our favorite Hanover Co grower began going there and dropped 17th st.
He now goes to Lakeside Wednesday pm (Sat’s he stays in Ashland). Will be trying Lakeside ourselves next week but would like to hear of any others who may have been there already.
I hope Ukrops goes out of business after they came to destroy our neighborhood at the the West_end.
I have always wondered what happened to Fresh Fields in the west end , years ago.
Always suspected that Ukrops might have been responsible for their sudden disappearance but can’t prove it.
Whole foods prices are lower than the Ukrops in my area.
I welcome fresh and organic food. Trader Joes has some creative healthful foods that are simple to prepare!! We have a small organic victory garden but winter is coming..
Can anyone tell me where the Lakeside Farmers market is?
thanks
Sure, I go to the Lakeside Market every week. Go North on Glenside, cross Broad Street, cross Staples Mill (road turns into Hilliard) make a right on Lakeside (at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden) and make your first right into the CVS/Lakeside Hardware store parking lot.
Also, don’t forget, the Near West End has its own farmers market at St. Stephen’s Church on Saturdays. For more on that go here: http://nearwestendnews.net/2009/07/16/st-stephens-farmers-market-ande-libbie-grove-sidewalk-sale-rock-the-near-west-end-this-saturday/