Wild Oats to become Whole Foods
Existing store's future unclear after McEwen center opens

Williamson A.M.
By HARRIET VAUGHAN • Staff Writer • June 10, 2008 

FRANKLIN — It's official: The Wild Oats natural food store in Cool Springs will become a Whole Foods market next week. The Cool Springs Marketplace store will close June 17 and reopen June 19 with its new name.

The Texas-based Whole Foods company last year bought 109 Wild Oats stores nationwide, including three in Tennessee.

Nashville's Wild Oats store in Green Hills closed last fall when a new Whole Foods store, built to anchor the Hill Center off Hillsboro Road, opened.

In Cool Springs, the transition from Wild Oats to Whole Foods began quietly a few weeks ago. Michael Martin, the store's marketing team leader, said the store has already started introducing Whole Foods brand products to customers and making gradual changes to signage inside the store. Customers will find a new seafood and salad bar, a raw-foods section, organic body products and clothes, and lower prices.

It's also added more than 40 employees to help support the new departments and services coming with the change. A regional team will travel to Franklin to assist in next week's changeover.

Darrah Horgan, a Whole Foods spokeswoman, said shopping increased after the opening of the Green Hills location and they expect the same in Franklin.

The 30,000-square-foot Cool Springs store — opened in September 2003 in the spot left empty by retailer Service Merchandise — has been one of the company's top performers.

An as-yet unanswered question is whether this will be the first of two Whole Foods stores to open in Williamson County.

In December, Franklin-based Southern Land Co. announced that Whole Foods would anchor McEwen, the 90-acre mixed-use development it's building at Mallory Lane and McEwen Lane. A fall 2009 opening is planned.

David Wilson, executive vice president of Southern Land Co., said his company began working on a contract with Whole Foods nearly two years ago.

The McEwen store is expected to be 45,000 square feet, 15,000 square feet larger than the Galleria Boulevard location.

"We have a signed lease with Whole Foods that we're moving forward with," Wilson said, adding that construction is on target. Of the Galleria location, he noted, "I think this is a great opportunity for residents to start shopping at Whole Foods early."

Martin said there is a possibility that the Galleria location may close and move to McEwen, which is only a few miles to the south.

Horgan would only say, "As for now, we plan to open the Whole Foods location in Franklin (on Galleria Boulevard) and it will remain as such."

When asked about a possible relocation, Horgan only acknowledged that she is aware of a deal between Southern Land Co. and Whole Foods.

In the meantime, Martin said the staff is "focusing on making this Whole Foods an outstanding Whole Foods market in this area." He added, "As McEwen develops, we'll have to see how that goes."

Omar Gaye, Whole Foods' south region vice president, echoed Martin's sentiments, saying, "We've made renovations and changes to the store to bring in new products, offer more selection and provide a fresh new look at our Franklin Whole Foods Market."

Interviewed at Wild Oats Monday, shopper Holam Antonetti of Franklin said she is excited about the change. She added that she frequently travels to the new Whole Foods store in Green Hills but now will do all of her shopping here.

Tony Dover lives in Rutherford County but works in Cool Springs and said he, too, will look forward to the change.

"It gives you options you can't find in other grocery stores."