Good one! :)

Glad you're here welcome! Honestly I do think it will pay off. I don't know much about bad neighborhoods in Chicago, but I'm guessing they thought it was worth it if they decided to open a store. Do you think they'll have problems with crime?

Hi. I'm new to the site and was disappointed by the first two sets of comments I saw. But this is more like it! For my two cents, Whole Foods is a great grocery store. What keeps me from going there is that it cost more than other stores...but that is my economic issue, more than theirs. As someone who lived in Harlem for years (and recently came to Colorado for a job), I can assure you that if Whole Foods had opened in the empty lot on 125th and Lennox, I would have paid their premium for the quality they deliver. It is a ballsy experiment they are conducting, and my guess is that it will pay off. Crappy neighborhoods have really limited choices that don't involve good, real food.

Right?! And how are they going to explain it away when someone inevitably gets upset that his steak was raised better than he was?

It is vital that my steaks were happy before I throw them on the BBQ!
I wish prosperity for all capitalists, but, location, location, location...

Could be a solid business plan if they're the only grocery store in town. They might even be able to afford armed gaurds haha.

I lived in Austin, TX when the first Whole Foods Store was opened. It was a tiny store and the owner and his then girlfriend lived just above it. A wonderful example of how hard work pays off. I'm not sure why they are opening a store in this neighborhood, but I can bet that a Whole Foods store can contribute to upgrading a bad neighborhood a hell of a lot better than the Federal Government can.

In a related story-- Whole Foods is now selling bullit-proof vests, ammunition and chalk to outline their customers.

Well...not totally "their nickel":

"Whole Foods received $5.8 million of tax credits and local and state grants. Emanuel reportedly asked Whole Foods to come to Englewood, and the city has pledged an unspecified amount of TIF money from the Chicago Neighborhoods Now program."

This article tells a lot more of the reasons behind this store opening:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/04...

Hey...if they take SNAP cards they might be a huge success. (eye roll).