has anybody seen a date on when the expansion of the wholefoods in tulsa is supposed to be complete?

When I was in there last week they hadn't even started construction, or it didn't look like they had. Just still have banners in the storefronts next door.

that is strange. it was like that in november when i was there last. i thought for sure they would have started by now.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5006/5378371526_e190d6663e_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5205/5377771749_a946cca402_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5285/5378371812_659f7d75b4_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5288/5378372614_47a543beb1_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5006/5378373004_22e4d540f9_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5004/5378373306_1ab2ef8ee2_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5085/5378368818_b2f8ab5865_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5166/5378373636_cd108e0fbb_b.jpg

So I looked back at the beginning of this thread and it was announced the store would be 35,000 sf. The image above is from the Oklahoma County assessor's website so it should be legit. Does that lead you to believe part of the store will be on a 2nd level? I would have thought offices and storage would for sure be on the 2nd floor but less than 20,000 sf seems small for shopping space.

So I looked back at the beginning of this thread and it was announced the store would be 35,000 sf. The image above is from the Oklahoma County assessor's website so it should be legit. Does that lead you to believe part of the store will be on a 2nd level? I would have thought offices and storage would for sure be on the 2nd floor but less than 20,000 sf seems small for shopping space.

It's unlikely any shopping area will be on a second level but you can see from the latest construction photos that part of the building will have two levels with the second level almost sure to be offices.

Yes, most stores have a second level for offices and such but second level shopping is common in other markets, the Simon David (Tom Thumb specialty) store in Dallas that I went to (Skillman & Audelia) had a second level. They had some specialty/kitchen items up there along with a cafe. Since this is not a "common store" compared to others in the market it would not surprise me if they had some second level shopping.

I seem to remember the old Gibson's store downtown having multiple levels.

So has the WF been downsized, from the original announcement?

Those photos are great. they really give a good feel to go along with the construction camera. I am not sure they are as far along as i thought they were.


I am looking at the floor plan and maybe i am reading it wrong. The floor plan walls look nothing like the pictures that were posted.

FALSE ALARM.... That footprint is from the old funeral home. For some reason it was posted under the Whole Food Market account with the tax assessor. My apologies. Mods can delete post #326.

The Whole Foods near my house has offices, employee break areas, a cafe and other things on the 2nd floor.

What is this photo below?

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5085/5378368818_b2f8ab5865_b.jpg

Pete, that is just north of the funeral home

Ah, this is the construction betts has mentioned on the old Kensington site on the west side of Grand just south of Glenbrook drive.

I have no idea what this is, as I haven't been able to find a building permit on the city's site.

Yes, they're busy working there. I'm not sure what's going there either, if anything.

I guess Whole Foods would be okay if you want to pay a lot for groceries, but I would like to see more main stream stores like Safeway, Krogers, etc. Of course, WF is main stream too, but what about the cost of the weekly groceries?

That looks like major utility work to me... They are only working on the strip closest to the street and there is also some earth moved along Grand north of Glenbrook Drive which CHK does not own.

I bet they are just doing major upgrades to the utility systems due to the work around Whole Foods -- and at the same time doing some grading for the old Kensington property. May also be related to the re-working of the creek in that area.

I really don't think they have received approval to building anything there.

Pete, I'm not so sure it's just that, they also put in a nice curved sidewalk just to the right of that picture, and if you look closely, you can see some of the sidewalk forms.

Whole Food's hiring recipe. (http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/01/19/f_bctwf_whole_foods_hires.fortune/index.html)

I think they are widening grand.

I think they are widening grand.

Yep. There's going to have to be a turn lane.

There you have it! Another mystery solved.

Thanks, guys.

I guess Whole Foods would be okay if you want to pay a lot for groceries, but I would like to see more main stream stores like Safeway, Krogers, etc. Of course, WF is main stream too, but what about the cost of the weekly groceries?

People who shop at WF do so for the quality and selection. They aren't trying to save 15 cents on a head of lettuce.

It is about time we have a choice. It will be a great success.

From this photo in today's Oklahoman, it sure looks like that area in the rear of the store will be a covered dock, not a seating area by the creek:

http://photos.newsok.com/2/showimage/1353778/gallery_large?recordView=0

I am not so sure that is a dock or not. The other side of the store looks to have two large cut outs that i would think are the dock doors.

that back corner of the store you post sure is weird. i have no idea what the end result will look like or what it would have been designed like that. Are they they going to put a odd roof on the first story and then just wall up the second?

Hopefully, after people there are crippled by Whole Foods' prices, you'll get a Sprouts. Same stuff, just way cheaper. They're popping up all over LA here and I couldn't be happier! But I am glad to see that OKC is moving along!

I believe the building permit says the WF building under construction will be 39,750 square ft. and an overall height of 37 ft.

I guess Whole Foods would be okay if you want to pay a lot for groceries, but I would like to see more main stream stores like Safeway, Krogers, etc. Of course, WF is main stream too, but what about the cost of the weekly groceries?

I have always viewed Whole Foods as a "specialty" food market. Sure they have all your essentials, but they also have items not found anywhere else in Oklahoma. Thats why it's going to be so popular here. Also, don't they only sell organic? That would be one of the reasons the prices are high.

And once all the snoots in N.H. shop there and see the quality, they wont be going anywhere else.

I have always viewed Whole Foods as a "specialty" food market. Sure they have all your essentials, but they also have items not found anywhere else in Oklahoma. Thats why it's going to be so popular here. Also, don't they only sell organic? That would be one of the reasons the prices are high.

And once all the snoots in N.H. shop there and see the quality, they wont be going anywhere else.

Hence giving Crapland a run for their money.

I have always viewed Whole Foods as a "specialty" food market. Sure they have all your essentials, but they also have items not found anywhere else in Oklahoma. Thats why it's going to be so popular here. Also, don't they only sell organic? That would be one of the reasons the prices are high.

And once all the snoots in N.H. shop there and see the quality, they wont be going anywhere else.

Once they see? More like once it opens, most already shop at WF when elsewhere that has one. I don't think WF selection would be any surprise to the NH crowd or lots of others in the metro. Heck, when I'm in Tulsa or Dallas I get my weeks groceries and bring them back to OKC.

I know several others on this site that do the same and we aren't the NH crowd.

Metro speaks the truth. I routinely stock up at whole foods when in Tulsa or Dallas.

Same here. Just went to the Tulsa store two weeks ago and brought home quite a haul. I do it each time I go to Dallas. I do it each time I go to St. Louis. I also hit Trader Joe's when in STL. My wife and I always laugh at ourselves when we travel and hit grocery stores instead of tourist attractions.

^^^
We used to do that w/Wal-Marts...LOL

Whole Foods home office just applied for a $4,000,000 building permit, so it looks like they are getting ready to hand over the shell for tenant improvements.

Looks like total cost of the project will be $14,000,000. It also lists the total square footage at 41,269.

With this news, we should see an Grand Opening date soon.

Sure doesn't look that big, but hope you're right. Yeah the shell is almost done.

$341 per square foot....yikes.

I believe that square footage total includes the 2nd level office/storage.

And the total cost must also include the substantial site work and parking lot and bridge (over the creek) construction.

How can they be filing that permit already? there isn't even a front wall or parking lot. have they even started bricking the 3 sides that are up?

Have you ever tried to construct a large project in a short time frame? In cases like this you always submit for permit before you actually need it in the hopes that it will be ready t the time you start on what the permit is needed for. It can take a ridiculous amount of time to get a permit through the system, in almost every jurisdiction most citidiots (city staffers) don't exactly have a reputation for expediency or common sense. At the permit departments that I have dealt with seem to fit that criteria.

that is a interesting take bluedogok. What would be your guess time wise for when wholefoods took over the site for interior work? Is there a average that it take a permit to flow through the system?

Hopefully, after people there are crippled by Whole Foods' prices, you'll get a Sprouts. Same stuff, just way cheaper. They're popping up all over LA here and I couldn't be happier! But I am glad to see that OKC is moving along!

Sprouts is probably on the way now. They are rumored to the be the organic store going in at The Walk at Tulsa Hills, and while the developer won't confirm who the store is, he says the chain who has committed is from out of state and wants to open multiple stores in Oklahoma.

that is a interesting take bluedogok. What would be your guess time wise for when wholefoods took over the site for interior work? Is there a average that it take a permit to flow through the system?
On shell/TI work one typically follows the other. Typically as soon as the building is weathered in they can start on interiors but it really depends on the jurisdiction. Down here contractors can start on certain interior items before shell final inspections or TI permits are issued but they are taking a risk that plan review may have changes that have to be implemented after items are already in place. I have had that happen on the last two fast track projects. One was a 20,000 sf TI finish out in a cold, dark shell, we had the project kickoff meeting the Tuesday after Memorial Day and they were moved in by the middle of September and a certain reviewer at the permit office held up the project for a couple of weeks with things "he wanted done" that were not required by code, eventually his boss signed off on the permit with the minimal changes we applied to satisfy the original reviewer wishes so it looked like we addressed his comments. I guess he was thinking he was Paul Brum.

I haven't done any work in OKC for 8-9 years, so I am not sure how responsive the permit department is or their current policies. Except for Brum, the OKC permit dept. was not that bad to work with back then.


Sprouts is probably on the way now. They are rumored to the be the organic store going in at The Walk at Tulsa Hills, and while the developer won't confirm who the store is, he says the chain who has committed is from out of state and wants to open multiple stores in Oklahoma.
Sprouts is a nice store, I go to Sunflower (they changed the name from Newflower in Texas after getting trademark issues in Texas sorted out recently) more often because it is closer to my house. Sunflower and Sprouts are very similar in size and scope, either (or both) would be a great addition to the OKC or Tulsa metro areas.

Uh-oh time for Sunflower Markets - - http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/local/wild-oats-mkt-ceo-child-prostitution-02112011

Speaking of Sunflower Markets: When they offer you a yogurt sample, take a pass. (http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S1968595.shtml?cat=504)

Speaking of Sunflower Markets: When they offer you a yogurt sample, take a pass. (http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S1968595.shtml?cat=504)

Looks like those ladies was not the swallow kind. LOL!

Anyone have the latest pix of the construction? Its been a long time, it gotta be done already.

I will second the request for new pics.

We still need to solve the mystery on what is going on with that back corner of the store and where the outdoor seating area will be.

I don't have pics but I drove by it tonight and it doesn't look significantly different than the last set of pics, which is disappointing. But then again weather has sucked for 2 weeks.

YUCK!

http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/02/13/arizona.ceo.child.prostitution/index.html?hpt=T2

I will second the request for new pics.

We still need to solve the mystery on what is going on with that back corner of the store and where the outdoor seating area will be.

To my knowledge they didn't promise and outdoor seating are, I believe it was purely our speculation.

For those requesting pics...This link was posted before http://oxblue.com/pro/open/smithandpickel/wholefoods It's a link to a live webcam. You can use this to check the progress at anytime.

Except for those with no flash, such as those on an iPad, or iPhone.

I agree that it was never promised that this store would have outdoor seating but the majority of Wholefoods do have this type of seating. I am still betting that looking on the construction cam that the area on the front of the store closest to the campus is going to be this seating. If you look at the dirt in that area it apears they may have poured some kind of concrete outline. this is the area i am betting on.

Except for those with no flash, such as those on an iPad, or iPhone.

Oxblue has a free iPad app that works very well. Despite what the app description says you don't need an oxblue account.

They started the stone work on the SE corner of the building yesterday, I'll try to snap pics soon.

Just out of curiosity, does the city or Chesapeake intend to widen Grand Boulevard between Western & 63rd? The area around Classen/Grand/Western is going to be a traffic nightmare when this place opens!

Yes

Just out of curiosity, does the city or Chesapeake intend to widen Grand Boulevard between Western & 63rd? The area around Classen/Grand/Western is going to be a traffic nightmare when this place opens!

I'm sure that some road work is justified but I think "nightmare" is a little strong. It's a grocery store not game day in Norman. I haven't been to any grocery store that generates enough traffic to make driving a nightmare.

I'm sure that some road work is justified but I think "nightmare" is a little strong. It's a grocery store not game day in Norman. I haven't been to any grocery store that generates enough traffic to make driving a nightmare.

while nightmare may be a strong word .. with the current roads classen curve and the whole foods will be a huge traffic mess .. whole foods parking lot will be almost full 6-8 hours a day .. we have a huge demand for a good grocery ... and it is going to do very very well .

while nightmare may be a strong word .. with the current roads classen curve and the whole foods will be a huge traffic mess .. whole foods parking lot will be almost full 6-8 hours a day .. we have a huge demand for a good grocery ... and it is going to do very very well .

Not to mention if they build a hotel where the Varsity used to be. With Grand only being two lanes and the shape that it's in, it'll create havoc.

Drove by it today, they're putting up a grayish stone/brick on the exterior of the south/east side.