Anyone else receive this email other than some random blog?

All I found was the random blog via a posting on my Facebook page. Not the most trustworthy of sources, I'll grant you that.

Please note the "?" at the end of the thread's title. Consider it as the shortest disclaimer ever.

Nevermind; wrong thread.

All I found was the random blog via a posting on my Facebook page. Not the most trustworthy of sources, I'll grant you that.

Please note the "?" at the end of the thread's title. Consider it as the shortest disclaimer ever. Agree. This seems very random and not official. I'll believe it when they have signed the lease and broke ground??

Um,. no, not buying it.... I'll be very, very, very shocked if this is true

Um,. no, not buying it.... I'll be very, very, very shocked if this is true

You're just jealous a random blogger scooped you.

You newspaper guys with your "confirmed sources" and "true statements."

So passé.

Um,. no, not buying it.... I'll be very, very, very shocked if this is true Do you think that it could have been a very hush hush behind the scenes negotiations with a developer that wanted it kept under the radar? Possible. But then again, that blog just puts a doubt and does not seem official enough. Just another rumor?

Reading the email to the blogger, it is signed by "Steve Cramer, Store Team Leader" and it was sent to the Tulsa store. Seems like it would be easy to check.

Reading the email to the blogger, it is signed by "Steve Cramer, Store Team Leader" and it was sent to the Tulsa store. Seems like it would be easy to check. True. Can we count on you to check MikeOKC (LOL).

True. Can we count on you to check MikeOKC (LOL).

No, I was waiting for you! That's funny, because I started to call and then thought that somebody else would. Which is what everyone else was probably thinking! :doh:

Do you think that it could have been a very hush hush behind the scenes negotiations with a developer that wanted it kept under the radar? Possible. But then again, that blog just puts a doubt and does not seem official enough. Just another rumor?
Anything is possible. I'll try to check into it soon. Writing some stories on deadline right now.

Steve Cramer was the store team leader in Tulsa last year. That much I could find.:

Whole Foods deli offers a whole lotta variety | Retail > Retailers from AllBusiness.com (http://www.allbusiness.com/retail/retailers-food-beverage-stores-specialty-health/12127780-1.html)

Um,. no, not buying it.... I'll be very, very, very shocked if this is true

I don't understand why some people are so hestiate to believe this. Funny it seems to me.

Just sit back and watch one pop up right by Classen Curve.

I don't understand why some people are so hestiate to believe this. Funny it seems to me.

Just sit back and watch one pop up right by Classen Curve.

I think what is most at issue is the claim that the new store will be "downtown" as this goes against everything all other research and noted sources have pointed to. Either the poster is not familiar enough with Oklahoma City to know the difference between the Classen Curve area and downtown, or it's a completely bogus post.

Until it can be researched and verified, I'd not take it at face value just yet.

Not skeptical at all about the curve location - downtown is what bewilders me

Perhaps they will build two of them? Not all that familiar with the chain, but maybe they feel they can grab some of the south side market by putting one in dowtown since a lot of south siders are in downtown at some point during the week (or close enough to it to stop by), while also capturing the north side market?

There was the rumored location at 36th and Broadway at one point in time. That's closer to downtown. Although, to add to the rumor mill, someone told me that Trader Joe's was planning to go in at that location.

Perhaps they will build two of them? Not all that familiar with the chain, but maybe they feel they can grab some of the south side market by putting one in dowtown since a lot of south siders are in downtown at some point during the week (or close enough to it to stop by), while also capturing the north side market?

Not picking on south side, but my thoughts are that they would put something closer to Norman, as the near south side is not really a market for them.

Perhaps they will build two of them? Not all that familiar with the chain, but maybe they feel they can grab some of the south side market by putting one in dowtown since a lot of south siders are in downtown at some point during the week (or close enough to it to stop by), while also capturing the north side market?

Given the fact(s) that a: it's taken them YEARS to get here, and b: their demo guidelines are stringent as all get-out, I would say it's not likely they are adding a second location AT THIS TIME. If they do add one eventually, I'd see it going in north Norman somewhere so they can capture both the Norman and South OKC folk. We just don't have the income density, nor the psychographic trends, really, to justify two within ten miles of one another.


There was the rumored location at 36th and Broadway at one point in time. That's closer to downtown. Although, to add to the rumor mill, someone told me that Trader Joe's was planning to go in at that location.

As for the Broadway & 36th location, I thought Council denied the request for this area to be a multi-use residential/commercial district. Thought there was enough push back from the Crown Heights folks that they didn't want to see any commercial development there. <--- Steve, can you help out my memory on this one?

There was the rumored location at 36th and Broadway at one point in time. That's closer to downtown. Although, to add to the rumor mill, someone told me that Trader Joe's was planning to go in at that location.

Betts your right. With all of the hype about Classen Curve (as beautiful as it is), Humphrey's still does possess the land next to First Christian Church right? I know the Crown Heights people threw great agitated protests, none the less, it is a great visible and easy access location to Downtown and commuters.

Have we actually mathematically confirmed that any one space in Classen Curve is large enough for the type of layout that they require for one of their stores?

Betts your right. With all of the hype about Classen Curve (as beautiful as it is), Humphrey's still does possess the land next to First Christian Church right? I know the Crown Heights people threw great agitated protests, none the less, it is a great visible and easy access location to Downtown and commuters.

Have we actually mathematically confirmed that any one space in Classen Curve is large enough for the type of layout that they require for one of their stores?

Urban Pioneer, the proposed site would not actually be in the existing Classen Curve footprint, but across the street where the funeral home previously existed.

Have we actually mathematically confirmed that any one space in Classen Curve is large enough for the type of layout that they require for one of their stores?

I think projection is that the store will go on the old funeral home site directly across from the current Chesapeake campus, across the street north of Classen from the shopping area; not in the "Curve" itself.

Given the fact(s) that a: it's taken them YEARS to get here, and b: their demo guidelines are stringent as all get-out, I would say it's not likely they are adding a second location AT THIS TIME. If they do add one eventually, I'd see it going in north Norman somewhere so they can capture both the Norman and South OKC folk. We just don't have the income density, nor the psychographic trends, really, to justify two within ten miles of one another.


Yeah, I'm not really familiar at all with their market and potential capture demographics they look for. I know they are upscale but not sure to what degree. I am just trying to find reasons why they'd be rumored for CC and now downtown -- unless they changed their mind on CC?

Yeah, I'm not really familiar at all with their market and potential capture demographics they look for. I know they are upscale but not sure to what degree. I am just trying to find reasons why they'd be rumored for CC and now downtown -- unless they changed their mind on CC?

Here are two reasons: 1. Aubrey 2. McClendon

Two more reasons: 1. No one 2. Lives downtown

This is interesting because my understanding is the Chesapeake has a letter they're sitting on from Whole Foods and they demolished the funeral home back between the blizzards knowing "full well" (as we Okies say) that they'd put a Whole Foods there.

And of course, Humphries' Crown Heights land is in my opinion BY FAR the best shot Oklahoma City has of attracting Trader Joe's, Anthropologie, and other hold our retailers. There's no reason we couldn't have a TJ and a WF, we could support them. Omaha has had WF for about 5 years, and is now getting a TJ based on how well they supported WF--Omaha is only around 800,000 people, significantly smaller than Tulsa.

Yeah, I'm not really familiar at all with their market and potential capture demographics they look for. I know they are upscale but not sure to what degree. I am just trying to find reasons why they'd be rumored for CC and now downtown -- unless they changed their mind on CC?

Well, I mean, they might have finally gotten a chance to actually SEE Classen Curve.. LOL

There was the rumored location at 36th and Broadway at one point in time. That's closer to downtown. Although, to add to the rumor mill, someone told me that Trader Joe's was planning to go in at that location.

As others pointed out, the protesters appeared to have one on this one, at least for now.


This is interesting because my understanding is the Chesapeake has a letter they're sitting on from Whole Foods and they demolished the funeral home back between the blizzards knowing "full well" (as we Okies say) that they'd put a Whole Foods there.

And of course, Humphries' Crown Heights land is in my opinion BY FAR the best shot Oklahoma City has of attracting Trader Joe's, Anthropologie, and other hold our retailers. There's no reason we couldn't have a TJ and a WF, we could support them. Omaha has had WF for about 5 years, and is now getting a TJ based on how well they supported WF--Omaha is only around 800,000 people, significantly smaller than Tulsa.

Do you have proof they are "sitting on a letter" other than the rumors here, regardless of if several of them are reputable people?

Omaha getting TJ because of how well they supported WF? Please provide evidence. The article posted the other day on here out of an Omaha paper said NOTHING about Whole Foods, it mainly was stating that due to their retail recruiters persistance of showing statistics, etc. after being told no many times over the last few years.

As others pointed out, the protesters appeared to have one on this one, at least for now.



Do you have proof they are "sitting on a letter" other than the rumors here, regardless of if several of them are reputable people?

Omaha getting TJ because of how well they supported WF? Please provide evidence. The article posted the other day on here out of an Omaha paper said NOTHING about Whole Foods, it mainly was stating that due to their retail recruiters persistance of showing statistics, etc. after being told no many times over the last few years.

Check this out. (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=62378857494&v=info) Talk about serious grassroots investment in recruiting Trader Joe's. Do people around here do this kind of thing?

Oh Metro...

1. I have not been in the Whole Foods thread on here. I stay out of 20+ page threads on here. And yeah, I have proof, let me get it for you right now..lol
2. Well, if WF's worst location was Omaha chances are they wouldn't be getting a TJ. You figure?

Two more reasons: 1. No one 2. Lives downtown

3. Yes 4. They do... 5. We're tired of shopping at the homeland that smells like grandma basement by Braums on Classen...

3. Yes 4. They do... 5. We're tired of shopping at the homeland that smells like grandma basement by braums on classen...

amen

Im not buying this..

3. Yes 4. They do... 5. We're tired of shopping at the homeland that smells like grandma basement by Braums on Classen...

okay okay, a few hundred people live downtown. However, in the eyes of Whole Foods, no one lives downtown.

okay okay, a few hundred people live downtown. However, in the eyes of Whole Foods, no one lives downtown.

About 2,000 of us "no ones" and growing. More if you count surrounding neighborhoods like Mesta Park and Heritage Hills, both of which have lots of disposable income. You also forget Whole Foods is a magnet and people will drive from all over Central Oklahoma to shop at one. Heck I drive several times a year to get stuff from the one in Tulsa and Dallas and I know there are many others like me out there in OKC.

Although I would be shocked (and thrilled) to see Whole Foods come to downtown, since I am one of the no ones who live downtown, I don't really expect it to happen. Nonetheless, metro is right, people would drive from almost anywhere to shop there, including Norman, Midwest City, Yukon, Edmond, etc. In some ways, downtown has easier access and more centrally located than the Hahn Cook location for shoppers from the metro. I will drive up to the Hahn Cook location to shop there, certainly, and will be happy to do so, I'm sure.

Main Entry: delusion
Pronunciation: \di-?l-zh?n, de--\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin delusion-, delusio, from deludere
Date: 15th century

1 : the act of deluding : the state of being deluded
2 a : something that is falsely or delusively believed or propagated b : a persistent false psychotic belief regarding the self or persons or objects outside the self that is maintained despite indisputable evidence to the contrary; also : the abnormal state marked by such beliefs

delusional \-?lzh-n?l, -?l-zh?-n?l\ adjective

delusionary \-zh?-?ner-e-\ adjective
synonyms delusion, illusion, hallucination, mirage mean something that is believed to be true or real but that is actually false or unreal. delusion implies an inability to distinguish between what is real and what only seems to be real, often as the result of a disordered state of mind <delusions of persecution>. illusion implies a false ascribing of reality based on what one sees or imagines <an illusion of safety>. hallucination implies impressions that are the product of disordered senses, as because of mental illness or drugs <suffered from terrifying hallucinations>. mirage in its extended sense applies to an illusory vision, dream, hope, or aim <claimed a balanced budget is a mirage>.

Main Entry: delusion
Pronunciation: \di-?l-zh?n, de--\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin delusion-, delusio, from deludere
Date: 15th century

Deluded that Whole Foods is coming? Or deluded that it will be downtown?

When HIGHLY reputable sources have all but confirmed it explicitly, it's hard to be deluded.

stay classy stephy from seattle

Deluded that Whole Foods is coming? Or deluded that it will be downtown?

When HIGHLY reputable sources have all but confirmed it explicitly, it's hard to be deluded.

Downtown. Though, from reading the forums on wholefoodsmarket.com and seeing that the "confirmation" is 2-3 years old, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for an OKC store.


stay classy stephy in seattle

I don't get it.

Between Whole Foods and Trader Joes, I would MUCH rather have a TJs. Better prices and a great selection. WF is more status..TJ is a better store for us. JMHO.

Although I would be shocked (and thrilled) to see Whole Foods come to downtown, since I am one of the no ones who live downtown, I don't really expect it to happen. Nonetheless, metro is right, people would drive from almost anywhere to shop there, including Norman, Midwest City, Yukon, Edmond, etc. In some ways, downtown has easier access and more centrally located than the Hahn Cook location for shoppers from the metro. I will drive up to the Hahn Cook location to shop there, certainly, and will be happy to do so, I'm sure.
I wouldn't bet on a lot of that. People are pragmatic enough that they won't regularly shop somewhere miles out of their way once the novelty wears thin. Sure, there will be a few who do, but not enough to make a big difference.

I just heard it was a done deal from a VERY reliable source, but the nature of the source makes me think it's in the Nichols Hills area, which makes the Hahn Cook location the likely one.

Has anyone contacted the Tulsa manager to verify / clarify this newly famous email?

I wouldn't bet on a lot of that. People are pragmatic enough that they won't regularly shop somewhere miles out of their way once the novelty wears thin. Sure, there will be a few who do, but not enough to make a big difference. Disagree. Since WF would be a speciality niche market and will be the best forward thinking market in OKC I feel it will not be a novelty. Since OKC has such "crappy" supermarkets I believe there is enough pent up demand for quality produce, foods etc.. as people continue to evolve with more forward thinking and sophisticated palates not being afraid to try new things. Especially for OKC young educated professionals!

Or whole foods will choose to locate in a denser area with more traffic rather than depending on 2,000 DT residents and people havng to drive far distances. It would be the safer and smarter decision.

I just heard it was a done deal from a VERY reliable source, but the nature of the source makes me think it's in the Nichols Hills area, which makes the Hahn Cook location the likely one. Did this source state when the company will be making an "official" and "reliable" announcement that they are coming to OKC?

Since OKC has such "crappy" supermarkets I believe there is enough pent up demand for quality produce, foods etc.. as people continue to evolve with more forward thinking and sophisticated palates not being afraid to try new things. Especially for OKC young educated professionals!

Ya know... I was just at Buy for Less at 23rd and Penn... that place has a pretty diverse selection.

About 2,000 of us "no ones" and growing. More if you count surrounding neighborhoods like Mesta Park and Heritage Hills, both of which have lots of disposable income. You also forget Whole Foods is a magnet and people will drive from all over Central Oklahoma to shop at one. Heck I drive several times a year to get stuff from the one in Tulsa and Dallas and I know there are many others like me out there in OKC.

Come on metro. Even a homer like you can recognize that downtown is a less ideal location than CC.

Ya know... I was just at Buy for Less at 23rd and Penn... that place has a pretty diverse selection.

Maybe...but it's also a complete dump.

The B4L on NW EXP ain't bad, though.

Come on metro. Even a homer like you can recognize that downtown is a less ideal location than CC.

After the Devon Tower is built? After Project 180? Who is to say?

Come on metro. Even a homer like you can recognize that downtown is a less ideal location than CC.

I never said it was. I agree fully with you that DT is a riskier venture for WF and doesn't seem as realistic, but for some odd reason if it is true, I definitely won't complain, even when I move out of DT and into an inner city historical neighborhood I'd drive DT in to shop there.

Disagree. Since WF would be a speciality niche market and will be the best forward thinking market in OKC I feel it will not be a novelty. Since OKC has such "crappy" supermarkets I believe there is enough pent up demand for quality produce, foods etc.. as people continue to evolve with more forward thinking and sophisticated palates not being afraid to try new things. Especially for OKC young educated professionals!
I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I think you overestimate the amount of extra time and money people want to spend on grocery shopping, regardless of their age, education level or profession. It's just human nature.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I think you overestimate the amount of extra time and money people want to spend on grocery shopping, regardless of their age, education level or profession. It's just human nature.

Have you been to Whole Foods?

If you cook your own food regularly you will eventually become very frustrated in OKC with what you have to work with today. The difference in selection and quality of food and ingredients at, say, Homeland, and a Whole Foods is staggering.

If/when Whole Foods opens here, I will visit the store multiple times weekly.

People are pragmatic enough that they won't regularly shop somewhere miles out of their way once the novelty wears thin.

The reality is that Whole Foods is very much a destination grocer and I would think it would be even more so in Oklahoma City than their best markets. It's very rare that Whole Foods is the only place their customers shop for groceries. This is why density of income is so important to them and why our diluted demographics kind of hurt us.

So, really, their location scouters have an interesting question to answer: Do you locate as close to potential regular and/or exclusive shoppers even if that will probably be a minority of your customer base and would make it less convenient for the rest of the market, or do you locate in a location that offers the greatest convenience for the greatest number of people even if most of them individually are not going to shop there every week?

The interesting thing about downtown is that they would have a virtual monopoly on downtown, midtown, heritage hills, and mesta park, while being the best option for all of the core and historic neighborhoods in terms of quality. They would be able to easily sell to the downtown working community, which comes from all over the metro and would be a very good "day of" market to sell their popular (and margin building) prepared foods. They would be under a 25 minute drive from much of Norman, Edmond, Yukon, and Midwest City.

If they locate in CC, they are close to probably the biggest concentration of money in the city, but they lose a lot of the convenience factor for suburbs and lose some of their competitive advantage of the core neighborhoods and historic areas. They give up the convenience being in the city center would be for the downtown working sector and exchange it for basically Chesapeake's employee base.

So, while it seems at face value that CC is the best place because of the proximity to NH, downtown offers a lot of upside for them that could make the two locations fairly equal. I think it depends a lot on exactly where they would put one downtown. If they could find a spot that has good accessibility, it might not be such a bad deal for them.

I still think it would be CC if they do locate here. But if they are intent on creating a destination store in the city, downtown may make a lot of sense.

The reality is that Whole Foods is very much a destination grocer and I would think it would be even more so in Oklahoma City than their best markets. It's very rare that Whole Foods is the only place their customers shop for groceries. This is why density of income is so important to them and why our diluted demographics kind of hurt us.

So, really, their location scouters have an interesting question to answer: Do you locate as close to potential regular and/or exclusive shoppers even if that will probably be a minority of your customer base and would make it less convenient for the rest of the market, or do you locate in a location that offers the greatest convenience for the greatest number of people even if most of them individually are not going to shop there every week?

The interesting thing about downtown is that they would have a virtual monopoly on downtown, midtown, heritage hills, and mesta park, while being the best option for all of the core and historic neighborhoods in terms of quality. They would be able to easily sell to the downtown working community, which comes from all over the metro and would be a very good "day of" market to sell their popular (and margin building) prepared foods. They would be under a 25 minute drive from much of Norman, Edmond, Yukon, and Midwest City.

If they locate in CC, they are close to probably the biggest concentration of money in the city, but they lose a lot of the convenience factor for suburbs and lose some of their competitive advantage of the core neighborhoods and historic areas. They give up the convenience being in the city center would be for the downtown working sector and exchange it for basically Chesapeake's employee base.

So, while it seems at face value that CC is the best place because of the proximity to NH, downtown offers a lot of upside for them that could make the two locations fairly equal. I think it depends a lot on exactly where they would put one downtown. If they could find a spot that has good accessibility, it might not be such a bad deal for them.

I still think it would be CC if they do locate here. But if they are intent on creating a destination store in the city, downtown may make a lot of sense.

This is a really great point. For me, downtown would be a far preferable location, as that is where I work. Getting to Nichols Hills from where I live is not exactly convenient, although it's made somewhat easier by I-44.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I think you overestimate the amount of extra time and money people want to spend on grocery shopping, regardless of their age, education level or profession. It's just human nature. I also believe that once people see the quality of WF with it's outstanding selections of cheeses, produce, and quality meats and it's tremendous salad bar and cooking classes etc.. then people will want to go out of their way and shop for "quality" items. It won't be your run of the mill OKC supermarket. I also find that people with high education levels tend to have higher incomes and can afford to pay for quality. The saying is so true, "You get what you pay for" philosophy. People either want quality or they do not.

Where downtown?

How about east end of Bricktown along Sheridan?

The demo of buildings has been going on there, just like the CC Hahn Cook site.

The reality is that Whole Foods is very much a destination grocer and I would think it would be even more so in Oklahoma City than their best markets. It's very rare that Whole Foods is the only place their customers shop for groceries. This is why density of income is so important to them and why our diluted demographics kind of hurt us.

So, really, their location scouters have an interesting question to answer: Do you locate as close to potential regular and/or exclusive shoppers even if that will probably be a minority of your customer base and would make it less convenient for the rest of the market, or do you locate in a location that offers the greatest convenience for the greatest number of people even if most of them individually are not going to shop there every week?

The interesting thing about downtown is that they would have a virtual monopoly on downtown, midtown, heritage hills, and mesta park, while being the best option for all of the core and historic neighborhoods in terms of quality. They would be able to easily sell to the downtown working community, which comes from all over the metro and would be a very good "day of" market to sell their popular (and margin building) prepared foods. They would be under a 25 minute drive from much of Norman, Edmond, Yukon, and Midwest City.

If they locate in CC, they are close to probably the biggest concentration of money in the city, but they lose a lot of the convenience factor for suburbs and lose some of their competitive advantage of the core neighborhoods and historic areas. They give up the convenience being in the city center would be for the downtown working sector and exchange it for basically Chesapeake's employee base.

So, while it seems at face value that CC is the best place because of the proximity to NH, downtown offers a lot of upside for them that could make the two locations fairly equal. I think it depends a lot on exactly where they would put one downtown. If they could find a spot that has good accessibility, it might not be such a bad deal for them.

I still think it would be CC if they do locate here. But if they are intent on creating a destination store in the city, downtown may make a lot of sense.

I agree with this. I live in Edmond, but work downtown. I find getting to downtown much more convenient than getting to Classen Curve. I will shop at Whole Foods wherever it locates (and hopefully sooner than later), but I would actually vote for downtown/Bricktown over Classen Curve. And why not offer them tax incentives like what was offered Bass Pro?

If they locate at CC, they're going to have to compete with Crescent Market.

Crescent Market commands some serious loyalty in Nichols Hills. Folks have been shopping there for generations.

Confirmed