COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) -
The paint is drying, the rafters are firm and secure, and the food are getting stocked. Whole Foods Market is ready to open this Thursday near the Fort Jackson Boulevard area.
Needless to say, there are plenty of people excited about the grand opening.
"We want to make sure we deliver a store Columbia deserves because they've been asking for us to come here for a long time," said store manager Jeff Campbell.
The Columbia developers who were begging Whole Foods to come had an uphill battle for several years.
"I think it was, convincing them Columbia was right for Whole Foods," said developer Lyle Darnell. "We've always known it, and we really have always believed in it, and 8 years later, here we are, so that's good."
In the past, the fresh foods market chose to land mainly in large cities, but after years and years, Jeff Campbell and his team have arrived.
"Lots of local," said Campbell. "This store will actually have more local items in it than almost any store."
The store brands itself on its local market feel. Everything, from bath and body products to meats to produce, will come from Midlands merchants. Even the store's waste will stay regional.
"It will turn into compost here," said Campbell. "And we have local farmers will pick it up and use it for planting. Then they're going to sell us the products back and we'll sell in our produce department. It's a great kind of cyclical thing."
The hope is that the money invested in this store and the restaurants like a Charleston spin-off and boutiques that will surround it, will come back around as sell. So far all but one space in the new market area is spoken for.
"Packed parking lot and lots of bags," said Darnell. "It's good that it's busy, but you will always watch for the shopping bags."
If all goes as planned come Thursday, the developers and the market they courted so hard will have a good reason to toast.
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