Gowanus Whole Foods is Open

Whole Foods Market bought the plot of land on Third and 3rd in Gowanus eight years ago. Construction began in early March this year and, nine months later, the store has opened its doors. Two hundred and fifty thousand reclaimed bricks, 400 employees, 20 checkout lines, and dozens of rows of sustainable food fill the 50,000-square-foot space. So too does a an impressive butcher counter, a variety of fresh fish, multitudes of local products, a bulk section, prepared foods, a coffee stand and separate roaster, and the almighty vast selection of craft beer. We braved the winter weather with hundreds of other enthusiastic shoppers on opening day today. Here's a look around.

Click to read more ...

Checking In On the Gowanus Whole Foods

We brought you pictures of the Gowanus Whole Foods project back in March, after foundation beams were placed and the 52,000 square-foot skeleton was taking shape. Nearly three months later, support beams are in place and the exterior shell is being put up. Construction is moving quickly, but the Gowanus Whole Foods is still a ways from opening. A worker said the goal is to open in January.

Click to read more ...

Whole Lotta Groceries

Whole Foods Market has owned the lot at the corner of 3rd and 3rd in Gowanus since 2004. After plenty of backlash from the community, and years spent cleaning and remediating the once industrial lot, construction only somewhat recently began. Now that it has, the 52,000-square foot megastore (25% smaller than the original proposed grocery) is going up at a mind-blowing rate. Foundation beems are all in place and progress can easily be detected on a daily basis.

There will be a 20,000-square foot greenhouse on the roof, growing vegetables to be sold inside. Plans for the greenhouse were developed after developers decreased the number of onsite parking spaces from over 400 to 250. The market is slated to open this fall.

As for the Coignet Building on the corner (360 Third Ave), that isn't going anywhere. The 140-year-old, former New York and Long Island Coignet Stone Company office building is landmarked. That means, as NYC.gov explains, "the Landmarks Preservation Commission officially recognizes the building has special historical, cultural, or aesthetic value and that the building is an important part of New York City's historical and architectural heritage. To help protect the city's landmarks from inappropriate changes or destruction, the Commission must approve in advance any alteration, reconstruction, demolition, or new construction affecting the designated building." Whole Foods has invested in improvements for the building, and those include a new roof and exterior repairs. Oh, and it's for sale. Property owner Richard Kowalski is taking bids.

Gowanus Whole Foods Finally Happening

The Times brings us the above picture of a once industrial wasteland that will finally become home to a proposed Whole Foods.

Whole Foods bought the 4.2 acres in 2004.  After eight years of community board meetings, reworked plans, and naysaying, The Board of Standards and Appeals finally granted Whole Foods permission to open at 3rd Street and 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn.

The Whole Foods will be 56,000 square feet (that's bigger than Eataly!), and reps say shovels will be digging "as soon as possible," according to Brownstoner.