Whole Foods

[Pete]

Yes, on the webcam you can see two big loads of what look like big beams.

Strange these would be on site when they haven't even poured the concrete foundation. Will be interesting to watch what happens.

[ChargerAg]

very odd as those appear to be beam for the roof. I would guess the roof framing is still 6-8 weeks out.

[Kerry]

Yes, on the webcam you can see two big loads of what look like big beams.

Strange these would be on site when they haven't even poured the concrete foundation. Will be interesting to watch what happens.

There was new shopping center here in Jax about 2 years ago and they didn't pour a foundation at all. Not sure if it is some kind of new enviro-construction method or not. They built the walls and roof and inside was still dirt floor. I'm not sure what they did about a foundation or what the floor sits on.

I did find a patent application for a foundationless wall system.

http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20090188180

[BG918]

My friend from Tulsa constantly complains about the lack of choices there. She recently visited the new Crest Fresh Market and said she plans on loading up there when she visits.

The Reasors' in Jenks and at 15th & Lewis are both comparable to the new Crest market, IMO. Though Crest probably has better prices. Like Swake said the older Reasors stores are more like Homeland while the newer ones are closer to Safeway and HEB. Reasor's has expressed interest in opening stores in the OKC metro so if and when they do that will provide another option.

One of the best things about the newer Whole Food's stores are the cafe's. Lots of premade items, great salad bar, etc. The one in Tulsa has always been lacking because it was Wild Oat's concept which was smaller than WF. It's great to see they are now expanding the cafe by occupying the space next to the store. Hopefully the one in OKC includes an attractive outdoor seating area, the one in Tulsa will never have one due to its location.

[Pete]

All the recent WF's have big deli/food stations with outdoor seating, so I'm sure the one in OKC will be no exception.

They just opened a location two miles from me that is slightly smaller than the OKC store and I'd say 25% of the space is devoted to the deli/cafe.

[metro]

I could be wrong, but it appears there MIGHT be an outdoor cafe seating area on the NE corner of the building. The outside wall they are working on has a curved shape too it that overlooks the drainage ditch area. I think it'd be a great area to put one, especially if they enhance that creek/drainage ditch with some nice landscaping.

[ChargerAg]

Are you talking about the curved wall that they have been building section by section for the past couple of weeks? I think that may be the back of the store based upon the artists rendering we saw a couple weeks ago.



I would be more inclinded to say that the outside seating area is the funny rectangle framed in concrete in the lower right of the construction cam.

[betts]

Looks like they are delivering steel today, so I think the foundation rumour is an unfounded one. Hope no one minds a bad pun.

[BG918]

I could be wrong, but it appears there MIGHT be an outdoor cafe seating area on the NE corner of the building. The outside wall they are working on has a curved shape too it that overlooks the drainage ditch area. I think it'd be a great area to put one, especially if they enhance that creek/drainage ditch with some nice landscaping.

That would be nice. I imagine they'll make it look similar to the creeks that flow through Chesapeake's campus, very canal-like.

[Pete]

For the life of me, I can't figure out what the heck they are doing at that construction site.

Not only do they now have several loads of steel without the foundation even poured, but they started demolition on the Glenbrook Centre West building several weeks ago and since then the crane at that site hasn't moved.

Also -- while the other CHK construction projects are overrun with workers -- the WF site and huge area around it never has more than a handful and they are always gone by the middle of the afternoon.

It's all very strange.

[soonerguru]

For the life of me, I can't figure out what the heck they are doing at that construction site.

Not only do they now have several loads of steel without the foundation even poured, but they started demolition on the Glenbrook Centre West building several weeks ago and since then the crane at that site hasn't moved.

Also -- while the other CHK construction projects are overrun with workers -- the WF site and huge area around it never has more than a handful and they are always gone by the middle of the afternoon.

It's all very strange.

Maybe this is more of an "organic" construction project, employing legal workers receiving a living wage.

[metro]

Are you talking about the curved wall that they have been building section by section for the past couple of weeks? I think that may be the back of the store based upon the artists rendering we saw a couple weeks ago.

I would be more inclined to say that the outside seating area is the funny rectangle framed in concrete in the lower right of the construction cam.

Yes, that is the section I am talking about (and if you notice, I was the one that initially posted the rendering you exampled, so I am very familiar with the site). I drive by it everyday and still think it COULD be an outdoor seating area. Without renderings from other angles, it is hard to tell. Why else would they make the back corner of the store curved for when it has the room to be a rectangle as depicted? Seems like the POSSIBILITY of an outdoor cafe area. I definitely could be wrong though, but nonetheless, I bet it is some sort of interesting feature.

[betts]

For the life of me, I can't figure out what the heck they are doing at that construction site.

Not only do they now have several loads of steel without the foundation even poured, but they started demolition on the Glenbrook Centre West building several weeks ago and since then the crane at that site hasn't moved.

Also -- while the other CHK construction projects are overrun with workers -- the WF site and huge area around it never has more than a handful and they are always gone by the middle of the afternoon.

It's all very strange.

The footings appear to be poured. I thought perhaps they were going to finish the retaining wall before pouring the foundation, but who knows!

[Pete]

Many more truckloads of steel to the WF site today.

They must be planning to put that up before pouring the foundation. Or, they fell behind schedule and had to take delivery of the steel before they were ready for it.

[okclee]

Maybe the steel supplier wanted to make delivery before the end of the month / billing cycle?

I know suppliers always like to push out materials whenever they can in order to help them with cash flow.

[SkyWestOKC]

Steel was delivered about a month or so in advance of the foundation and ramp concrete pour for the new Atlantic Aviation hangar and FBO facility at the airport. I think it has more to do with just getting most everything needed for initial construction on site first. That way, once you start you don't have to stop work on account of a shipment being a day late. Nothing to worry about methinks.

[ChargerAg]

Yes, that is the section I am talking about (and if you notice, I was the one that initially posted the rendering you exampled, so I am very familiar with the site). I drive by it everyday and still think it COULD be an outdoor seating area. Without renderings from other angles, it is hard to tell. Why else would they make the back corner of the store curved for when it has the room to be a rectangle as depicted? Seems like the POSSIBILITY of an outdoor cafe area. I definitely could be wrong though, but nonetheless, I bet it is some sort of interesting feature.

Sorry about taking that from your previous post without having a more careful eye as to who posted it. Is the curved wall you reference the stuff they are building with the boards or something different? the stuff they are making with the board i thought was just a retaining wall but i am watching all the construction via the camera and hardy ever go by the site.

I did notice that a crane showed up today so maybe they are going to start putting up framing next week?

[kinggober]

The footings are already done. I'll try and snap some pics at lunch. Also I think we may see the first steel installed today : )

[Pete]

Yes, the crane is in place and it looks like they will start erecting steel today.

Interestingly, the crane is actually placed inside the footings, perhaps because of the creek behind. So, they must have planned to allow the crane to roll over what will be the foundation, which is why it will be poured afterwards.

[kinggober]

First steel!

[ChargerAg]

That is a lot of structure they put up today.

I wonder what that massive steel beam on the left side of the cam is for. I just got delivered today. Is it for some kind of bridge?

[Pete]

They already erected a large bridge across the creek... I suppose they could be putting in a pedestrian bridge over Western.

Or, it could be just the center beam for the entire WF structure.

[ChargerAg]

So i have been looking at the construction cam and what they are making doesn't seem to make any sense to me. IS this thing going to be 2 stories?

I also keep loooking at the back of the store and wondering if Metro is right about some kind of eating area overlooking the field. it look like maybe they did a awning or something?

[J. Pitman]

So i have been looking at the construction cam and what they are making doesn't seem to make any sense to me. IS this thing going to be 2 stories?

I also keep loooking at the back of the store and wondering if Metro is right about some kind of eating area overlooking the field. it look like maybe they did a awning or something?

I'm pretty sure the offices will be on the second story.

[J. Pitman]

They already erected a large bridge across the creek... I suppose they could be putting in a pedestrian bridge over Western.

Or, it could be just the center beam for the entire WF structure.

I also heard that there will be a pedestrian bridge from NH plaza over 63rd.