A New York Post article confirms that American Eagle will be arriving at the new Whole Foods building that will break ground in May. This project set to be built at the corner lot on 125th at Lenox has a major retail developer behind it and momentum has picked up once more on Harlem's main commercial corridor so folks should expect this one to come through by 2015. Some might lament the lost of small shops on 125th Street but city planners apparently want the big corporations on 125th Street to provide foot traffic and major jobs while the avenues and side streets will now be the spots for small businesses. Read about the American Eagle's arrival in the Post:
LINK
It will be great to see construction begin on this long vacant lot and Whole Foods will be a very welcome addition. My only reservation is Whole Foods will negatively effect Wild Olive which has become a fixture on 125th, but in balance I am all for what the Whole Foods Market will bring to this corner and 125th street. Thanks for keeping us updated with developments.
ReplyDeleteI think (hope?) that the amount of floor traffic between the two of them would still make Wild Olive a viable option.
ReplyDeleteIn other words: it should still be well worth it to hike it to Wild Olive just to avoid the lines at Whole Foods.
Anybody know when they are supposed to be breaking ground?
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree with the impact on Wild Olive I am really disappointed at how Wild Olive is running the place. The place lacks decent lighting and basic product organization. The produce are tucked in the left-most aisle without any presentation. When it first opened I was really happy about it in concept. But when you walk in it looks like a mish-mash of unknown brands being presented as healthy choices without any effective marketing or presentation. I went there to get a few ingredients for valentine's day and I was really depressed.
ReplyDeleteFor what it's worth, Wild Olive's sister market, Mani Market on Columbus and 94th is just a few short blocks from the Whole Foods at 97th and Columbus...and has survived there for years.
ReplyDeleteI am glad to hear this will not be the death of Wild Olive, I remember when Wild Olive arrived, they took a chance and significantly raised the bar for groceries on central 125th street. I am grateful that in doing so, Wild Olive and other pioneers have shown what is possible and paved the way for Whole Foods Market.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad that 125th Street is becoming a Times/Herald Square North, both of which look exactly like every mall in America.
ReplyDelete