Whole Foods in Mandarin is struggling

[ben says]

The SJTC would seem to be a logical choice for a WF location but the Publix store there is one of their lower performing stores in the area.

If I lived at the SJTC, which I don't, I'd dread going grocery shopping.....that place is WAY too packed/crowded....I can see why WF didn't go there....I cannot see why WF went to Mandarin, though.

[copperfiend]

I think one problem with that Publix (and would be with Whole Foods) is that there aren't many people that live at the SJTC

I can sort of understand building in Mandarin but that specific location is awful. What a pain to get in and out of. They should have realized that there is a reason Publix moved across the street.

[Cliffs_Daughter]

But look at their direct competition - Native Sun.
BOTH locations truly are a pain to get to, when compared to WF.  Actually, they're a pain compared to almost anywhere. You either gotta be on the right side of the road in heavy traffic to get in, or you need to go down and make a good U-turn first.
But that doesn't stop anybody who wants to go there.
Honestly, I'd think the NS location on Baymeadows/9A is THE SINGLE WORST spot for a grocery store, but they seem to be doing very well.

[ChriswUfGator]

Whole Foods bumped their heads by opening up their location in Mandarin, if they were closer to riverside, (which the thriving whole foods in Atlanta is in a similar area) they were be good to go.

+1

Whole Foods misjudged their market. Rednecks with money aren't your normal predictable consumer demographic.

[manasia]

The SJTC would seem to be a logical choice for a WF location but the Publix store there is one of their lower performing stores in the area.

Excellent Point

[duvaldude08]

I agree.. Whole Foods is TOOOOOO far out. They would have been a perfect fit for the SJTC or San Marco/Riverside.

[jcjohnpaint]

The SJTC would seem to be a logical choice for a WF location but the Publix store there is one of their lower performing stores in the area.

If I lived at the SJTC, which I don't, I'd dread going grocery shopping.....that place is WAY too packed/crowded....I can see why WF didn't go there....I cannot see why WF went to Mandarin, though.

Yeah we shop at Cosco and it is a nightmare unless you go early in the morning. 

[CityLife]

Whole Foods bumped their heads by opening up their location in Mandarin, if they were closer to riverside, (which the thriving whole foods in Atlanta is in a similar area) they were be good to go.

+1

Whole Foods misjudged their market. Rednecks with money aren't your normal predictable consumer demographic.

The upper middle class people in Mandarin, Northern St. Johns, Fruit Cove, Julington Creek, Fleming Island, etc are by and large transplants and aren't rednecks at all.

[danem]

The SJTC would seem to be a logical choice for a WF location but the Publix store there is one of their lower performing stores in the area.

If I lived at the SJTC, which I don't, I'd dread going grocery shopping.....that place is WAY too packed/crowded....I can see why WF didn't go there....I cannot see why WF went to Mandarin, though.

Yeah we shop at Cosco and it is a nightmare unless you go early in the morning. 

I don't live in Town Center, so the only reason I go to that Publix is when (due to traffic or getting stuck in the right turn only exit again) I find it really difficult to turn back left onto Gate from the actual Town Center, end up going right, and decide that while I'm turning around "Oh I guess I should get some bread".

[stjr]

The SJTC would seem to be a logical choice for a WF location but the Publix store there is one of their lower performing stores in the area.

Excellent Point

Who wants to fight all that SJTC traffic to go to a neighborhood grocery store?  SJTC is good for "destination" stores, not convenience ones.  Publix going in there doesn't make much sense.  There used to be a grocery store in a long strip center (now demolished) in front of Regency Square in their parking lot.  It never did well either.

[Doctor_K]

The SJTC would seem to be a logical choice for a WF location but the Publix store there is one of their lower performing stores in the area.

Excellent Point

Who wants to fight all that SJTC traffic to go to a neighborhood grocery store?  SJTC is good for "destination" stores, not convenience ones.  Publix going in there doesn't make much sense.  There used to be a grocery store in a long strip center (now demolished) in front of Regency Square in their parking lot.  It never did well either.

Actually, in spite of the housing market collapse blunting further residential in the immediate area, you do indeed have people that live in there that patronize that Publix - both in Georgetown (townhouses behind Publix) and in those condos behind Maggiano's.  Not to mention the subdivisions along the nearby stretch of Gate Parkway

The location of that Publix makes perfect sense for people living there, and it's literally within walking distance from the UNF campus as well.  There are students in there practically all the time.

[stjr]

^Students and condo living empty nesters and DINK's don't replace the family Mom feeding the teenage kids or family with a house capable of having friends over for dinner.  Even if I lived in that area, I would dread fighting the traffic just to go to the grocery store.  I guess that's why I live far from it.   

[Doctor_K]

DINKs?

Traffic isn't that bad, believe me.  Only on the weekend.

[copperfiend]

Double Income No Kids

[Doctor_K]

Ah.  Thanks.