BY SANDRA BAKER
COLLEYVILLE -- Whole Foods Market will open a 40,000-square-foot store next year in Colleyville, the Austin-based company and property owner said.
Centennial Real Estate Co. in Dallas said the store will go in space formerly occupied by Albertson's in the Village Park at Colleyville shopping center at Texas 26 and Glade Road. The space that has been vacant since 2007.
Mark Dixon, Whole Foods Southwest region president, called the Colleyville shopping center "a desirable location and a perfect fit for Whole Foods Market. With our current store in Arlington and future location in Highland Village, our westward expansion gives more guests a convenient location for natural and organic culinary options."
Centennial said it plans to extensively renovate the center and adapt the space for the new Whole Foods Market store while modernizing other retail areas. The store is expected to open in mid-2014.
"We will construct a prominent storefront and entrance for Whole Foods Market while upgrading the appearance of the entire shopping center," said Steven Levin, Centennial's CEO. "Our plans include unique architectural features that combine new modern design with a concept that is consistent with the culture and setting of Colleyville."
Westlake Ace Hardware, Goody Goody Liquor and Vineyard's Antique Mall are also located in the 190,664-square-foot center.
Marty Weider, Colleyville's economic development director, said the deal to bring Whole Foods to the shopping center has been in the works for about two years. He called the deal a "game changer" for Colleyville and the shopping center, saying the store will attract shoppers from nearby cities and other quality tenants that want to be located near a Whole Foods store.
"It's a huge shot in the arm," Weider said. "We're happy to make this happen. We view this as a phenomenal opportunity for the shopping center to be upgraded. It's tough to keep inline tenants when you don't have an anchor."
Whole Foods enters a competitive grocery market in Northeast Tarrant County. Market Street is located just north on Texas 26, at Hall-Johnson Road, Tom Thumb has nearby locations and Central Market is located in Southlake.
Centennial said it assembled the shopping center from three separate owners over the past 18 months, allowing the company to bring in Whole Foods Market and redevelop the existing retail space. Centennial acquired Village Park with partners Gideon Interests, Inc. and Atlantic Creek Real Estate Partners, Llc. ViewPoint Bank provided the debt for the transaction, Centennial said.
In its earnings report last week, Whole Foods said it recently signed 11 new leases. In addition to Colleyville, new stores are scheduled for Toronto, Canada; Canada; Berkeley and Los Angeles, Calif., West Palm Beach, Fla., Lafayette and New Orleans, Louisiana, Westford, Mass., St. Louis, Miss. Cherry Hill, New Jersey and Newport News, Virginia.
Sandra Baker, (817) 390-7727
Star Telegram
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