Whole Foods has announced it is closing its flagship store in Downtown San Francisco over the city’s rampant violent crime and open-air drug use.
The Amazon-owned multinational supermarket chain’s flagship Market at Eighth and Market Streets shut down a little more than a year after the store opened.
The store is one of the largest supermarkets in Downtown San Francisco.
In a statement about the closure, Whole Foods said it has been unable to “ensure the safety” of staff at the Downtown location.
“We are closing our Trinity location only for the time being,” a Whole Foods spokesperson said in a statement.
“If we feel we can ensure the safety of our team members in the store, we will evaluate a reopening of our Trinity location.”
The flagship store cut operating hours due to “high theft” and hostile visitors in October of last year.
In November the store made new bathroom rules after syringes and pipes were found in the restroom.
SF Supervisor Matt Dorsey said: “I’m incredibly disappointed but sadly unsurprised by the temporary closure of Mid-Market’s Whole Foods.
“Our neighborhood waited a long time for this supermarket, but we’re also well aware of problems they’ve experienced with drug-related retail theft, adjacent drug markets, and the many safety issues related to them.
“Today, I’m waiving privilege to publicly announce a drafting request I’m working on with @Stefani4CA for a Charter Amendment entitled the ‘San Francisco Police Department Full Staffing Act,’ which will get San Francisco to a fully staffed police department within 5 years.
“Whole Foods’ closure — together with many other safety-related challenges we’ve seen recently — is Exhibit A as to why San Francisco can no longer afford NOT to solve our police understaffing crisis.”
I’m incredibly disappointed but sadly unsurprised by the temporary closure of Mid-Market’s Whole Foods. (1/7) https://t.co/lthpC90xTL
— Matt Dorsey (@mattdorsey) April 10, 2023
https://t.co/2Gxvpw1FJQ (4/7)
— Matt Dorsey (@mattdorsey) April 10, 2023
The company touted the opening of this flagship store in a press release earlier:
Whole Foods Market will open its new 64,737-square-foot San Francisco flagship store at Trinity Place (1185 Market Street) in San Francisco’s Mid-Market neighborhood on Thursday, March 10.
The store’s design nods to classic San Francisco with inspiration from the former Crystal Palace Market, the modern, industrial feel of the Tenderloin district and the iconic colors of the Golden Gate Bridge.
The new location’s product assortment places an emphasis on local offerings from Northern California, featuring more than 3,700 local products throughout the store, all hand-picked by Patrick Wyman, Local Forager for Whole Foods Market’s Northern California Region.
Features of the Trinity store include:
An array of organic, conventional, local and Sourced for Good produce, plus offerings from more than 32 local farms, including mandarins from Fruitworld, salad greens from Plenty’s San Francisco farm and organic mushrooms from Far West Fungi.
Specialty department dedicated to celebrating cheesemakers and artisan producers. Local specialties include Sweetdragon Baking Co. brittles, handcrafted chocolates from Charles Chocolates and Central Coast Creamery The cheese counter is overseen by trained cheesemongers who can offer recommendations for any occasion and create custom boards.
An extensive selection of 714 wines, including a wide selection from nearby wine-growing locales. Unique offerings include wines from Poe Wines and Kathryn Kennedy Winery.
More than 300 craft beers and 150 spirit offerings. Local options include Bare Bottle sour beers, low-calorie and flavored margaritas from Laughing Glass and craft beers from San Francisco Brewing.
Full-service seafood counter featuring seafood smoked in-house and a ready-to-eat Poke bar. Local options include caviar from Tsar Nicoulai Caviar, trout from TWO X SEA Trout and a wide selection of oysters from the west coast. All offerings are either sustainable wild-caught or Responsibly Farmed.
Full-service butcher to cut steaks to order or debone poultry. Department offerings include shabu shabu and made-in-house sausage. Local options include air-chilled chicken from Mary’s and lamb from Pozzi Ranch.
A Prepared Foods section with hot and cold food bars, sushi by Kikka as well as made-to-order and by-the-slice pizzas.
Bakery offering everyday favorites, such as Whole Foods Market’s Berry Chantilly Cake, brown butter cookies and vegan croissants and scones. Department also offers a wide variety of special diet items, such as vegan croissants, cupcakes, cookies and brownies and gluten-free blondies and sweets.
Local options include croissant toasts from La Boulangerie, breads from Wise Sons Deli, macarons from L’Artisan and hearth breads from Acme, Semifreddis and Firebrand.
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